JFK Review
Despite criticism from historians and conspiracy buffs alike, Oliver_Stone's docudrama JFK provides its audience with a highly controversial and thought-provoking depiction of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the assassination of America's 35th president. Centered around New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison's (Kevin_Costner) personal investigation into the links between businessman Clay Shaw (Tommy_Lee_Jones) and presumed assassin Lee Harvey Oswald (Gary_Oldman), JFK is as much a director's crusade as it is a landmark in raising public consciousness. After JFK's unprecedented box-office success and eight subsequent Oscar nominations, the United States government felt enough pressure to unseal the secret files related to the assassination -- a first in Hollywood/federal government relations. The problem is that Stone neglected factual consistency in the name of making a point. Many of Garrison's statements and various aspects of the conspiracy as presented in JFK are entirely false or based on precarious speculation. JFK is a double-edged sword for Stone, who was simultaneously rewarded and punished within the Hollywood system for tackling such a sensitive subject. However, with regard to the unarguably imaginative editing, JFK remains a spectacular achievement in film. Often lost amongst criticism is the existence of as many frighteningly irrefutable facts as creative liberties. This, combined with an all-star cast, beautiful cinematography, and disturbing archival footage, makes JFK a must-see for anyone interested in John_F._Kennedy and the underbelly of the American government. Tracie Cooper, Rovi
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