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JFK-from the Oliver Stone Collection


Reviewed by: Joe Comer
Genre: Drama
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1 Enhanced for 16x9 screens
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Language: English and French
Subtitle: English, French, Spanish and Portuguese
Length: 3 hours and 25 minutes
Rating: R
Release Date: 2-6-01
Studio: Warner Brothers
Commentary: Director Oliver Stone
Documentaries: No
Featurettes: "Meet Mr. X: The Personality and Thoughts of Fletcher Prouty" and "Assassination Update-The New Documents"
Filmography/Biography: Filmographies-Yes, Biographies-No
Interviews: "Meet Mr. X: The Personality and Thoughts of Fletcher Prouty"
Trailers/TV Spots: Yes
Alternate/Deleted Scenes: Deleted/Extended Scenes with or without director's commentary
Music Video: No
Other: DVD-ROM provides links to various web sites, including that of Oliver Stone/Collected Reviews of the film/Theatrical Trailer Samplers of other Oliver Stone films/Virtual Theatre featuring future online screening with a filmmaker chat set for a later date.
Cast and Crew: Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon, Tommy Lee Jones, Laurie Metcalf, Gary Oldman, Michael Rooker, Jay O. Sanders, Sissy Spacek and many others.
Screenplay by: Oliver Stone and Zachary Sklar
Produced by: A. Kittman Ho and Oliver Stone
Directed By: Oliver Stone
Music: John Williams
The Review: There is much to be said about this film. For one thing, it is, in this reviewer's opinion, the best film of the 1990's. Nearly every frame is loaded with huge amounts of information. And regardless of what you have heard, with the exception of a few minor changes, it IS accurate information. As director Oliver Stone had said in response to the critics of JFK, a filmmaker must be allowed a certain amount of creative license. After all, were the best biographical films before and since acclaimed for their factual truth actually perfect models of accuracy? Not likely. So why the urge to single this one out? I believe it was because of the controversial nature of the subject and all of the negativity the Warren Report has received. It was, in short, an attempt to discredit all involved (much like the Warren Commission attempted to do with many of it's witnesses) including the instigator of the only trial in the assassination of the 35th president of the United States. For all the mistakes made during said trial Jim Garrison alone stood up to the people and organizations that tried to keep the truth about that fateful day in 1963 from surfacing. He and he alone is the most responsible for bringing the other theories out in the open. Yes, there had been many books written that criticized the slipshod way the Warren Commission "investigated", but it was the trial of Clay Shaw in the late 60's that brought many of the speculative theories to the main stream public for the first time. Despite Garrison's sometimes questionable methods, no one can deny the man his motive: to bring forth the truth in what might very well be the crime of the century. Stone is relentless in HIS quest for the truth and it's this marriage of director and story that make the film so remarkable. In scene after scene he reinstates Garrison's vulnerability with the public. But this did not stop Garrison. Nor over twenty years later in 1991 did even put a dent in the opinions of Oliver Stone. The director uses his connection and knowledge of the 60's that was so apparent in many of his other films-PLATOON, BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY and THE DOORS, particularly-to attempt to tell the absolutely mesmerizing story of the D.A. of New Orleans' search for the facts. He holds the viewer with a series of superbly edited but very quick sequences that really give a DVD player a workout. Thank goodness for slow motion. The script wisely and fittingly tells this story through the eyes of Garrison himself. You really feel the persecution he feels as he becomes more and more obsessed with his search. When his wife (well played by Sissy Spacek) finally confronts Garrison with his obsession, your heart is in your throat. It's obvious that even with the people he had working for him, the D.A. is basically a man alone. In the final monologue, based on Garrison's final address to the jury, you certainly hope he succeeds. Fortunately, Stone balances the emotions of a family torn apart, with some stunning scenes based upon the beliefs and findings of authors such as Garrison himself, Mark Lane, Jim Marrs and David Lifton. For the first time we have a big budgeted, well exposed film that combines all the theories together. The director's cut only further proves Garrison and Stone's opinions. The scene in the washroom could make even the most secure person paranoid. And the light banter of the talk show host (played by John Larroquette) while interviewing the District Attorney is more evidence of how the public and the press treated the trial. The cast is perfect. Jack Lemmon, Ed Asner, the late Walter Matthau, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon and Donald Sutherland are all familiar faces here effectively placed in roles that range from mere guest appearances to full fledged important supporting roles. The lesser known actors and actresses also excel, especially Jay O. Sanders, Laurie Metcalf and Michael Rooker as Garrison's assistants. Gary Oldman as the doomed Lee Harvey Oswald once again proves his chameleon-like abilities as an actor and disappears completely in the role. Hard to believe that this is the same actor who was just as convincing as the Count in BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA and as Sid Vicious in SID AND NANCY among others. But it is Kevin Costner's performance as Jim Garrison that always pulls the film together. He is always convincing. It's true that he doesn't look a thing like the real Jim Garrison. Fortunately, Costner wisely opted to use subtle characteristics of Garrison in creating his interpretation of the man. The aforementioned final remarks to the jury are not only believable for what is being said but also for Costner's convincing and heartfelt delivery. Technically the film couldn't be better. The recreation of the assassination itself, is absolutely perfect, right down to the little girl that waved as she ran along the side of the President's limousine just before the shots were fired. The cinematography works well with the Oscar winning editing to hold the audience in the palm of it's hand. The atmosphere of New Orleans is beautifully felt. John Williams music score is another example of how the composer captures the very mood of every film he scores. The beautiful main theme he composed for JFK easily matches anything from JAWS, STAR WARS, SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE, E.T.-THE EXTRATERESTRIAL, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, SCHINDLER'S LIST or the Indiana Jones movies.
Image and Sound The true 2.35 widescreen ratio and 5.1 Dolby Digital sound has been completely restored for this edition of the film. It has the effect of drawing the viewer into the story and adds greatly to it's effectiveness.
The Extras While there are no documentaries as such on this two-disc set there are two fascinating featurettes. One is "Meet Mr. X: The Personality and Thoughts of Fletcher Prouty" and "Assasination Update-the New Documents". These both take you further into the mess that was the assassination and it's so-called investigation and serve to further vindicate both Jim Garrison AND Oliver Stone from further persecution. They are both found on the second disc. The deleted scenes and extension of already existing scenes are amazing. Particularly the ghost like image of Oswald on the witness stand. If this scene had been included in the final cut, it would have brought Gary Oldman an Oscar nomination, beyond a doubt. You can view all of these deleted and extended scenes with or without Stone's commentary. The other main features are all DVD-ROM related and mainly add up to links. It is interesting to read some of reviews of the film at one of the sites. It seems that there were a lot of people that were scared that this film would finally tell the world of the corruption that was involved in the assassination. Their remarks only go to prove that Stone and Garrison were right in bringing it all out into the open. It's because of them that perhaps one day some of the participants in this heinous crime that are still alive will finally feel the heat enough and come out with the truth.
Commentary Oliver Stone's commentary is simply one of the best I have ever heard. What I like best about it is he proves that he is still very much concerned about the truth, long after the film stopped making huge amounts of money. His sincerity and honesty in standing up to his critics is refreshing. It's through his comments during the running of the film that he is finally able to do so point by point. Way to go, Mr. Stone!
Final Words: After many viewings of this film I can honestly say that if I were to choose to sit and watch it again now, I would still catch something I hadn't caught before. With the excellent commentary, the fascinating Deleted/Expanded scenes and featurettes adding so much to this great film there are plenty of reasons for owning the Oliver Stone Collection edition of JFK. It's message is clear. And it's dedication to youth and their search for truth assures that it should be handed down from generation to generation so that perhaps one day we will all know the whole story.


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 May 31, 2001