Oliver Stone's self-proclaimed "countermyth," JFK mocks the doubtful veracity of the Warren Commission's findings on the Kennedy assassination and summarizes some of the myriad theories that have been proposed in its contest. Focusing on the investigation by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) into the activities of the FBI and other government agencies as well as their attempted cover-ups, Stone weaves fact and speculation into a compelling argument for the reopening of the case files. Garrison begins to investigate local links to the assassination, including Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones), David Ferrie (Joe Pesci), Guy Bannister (Ed Asner), Perry Russo (Kevin Bacon), and Lee Harvey Oswald (Gary Oldman). When the accounts of Ferrie, Russo, and others almost invariably diverge from the FBI versions of events, Garrison begins to suspect a cover-up. Widening his net, he interviews many of the original assassination witnesses and again finds little that coincides with the government's record. Combining interviews with an analysis of the physical evidence, Garrison's team posits the existence of a conspiracy to kill the president. A mysterious Col. X (Donald Sutherland) implies the orchestration of the conspiracy at the highest levels of government, and Garrison is ready to go to trial. Stone deploys video, different film stocks shot at varying speeds, and a dizzying style of montage while harnessing the talents of a large and extraordinary cast to create a film of undeniable power and excitement.
Theatrical release date: December 20, 1991.
The film began shooting April 15, 1991 and completed shooting July 30, 1991.
The Director's Cut contains additional scenes (some as long as 8 minutes) and the extension of some original scenes.
Shot on location in Dallas, Texas; New Orleans, Lousiana; and Washington, DC.
Estimated budget: $35-40 million.
Author Jim Garrison makes a cameo appearance as Earl Warren.
The CIA opened some of their assassination files in response to Stone's allegations.
Excerpt: "Let justice be done though the heavens fall."--Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner)
DVD Features:
Full Frame - 1.33
Stars
Kevin Costner: Oscar winning American actor, director, DANCES WITH WOLVES
Tommy Lee Jones: American actor
Kevin Bacon: Omnipresent American actor, FOOTLOOSE, MYSTIC RIVER
Laurie Metcalf: American TV/Film Actress
Gary Oldman: British actor, SID AND NANCY/TRUE ROMANCE
Michael Rooker: American Actor
Jay O. Sanders: American Actor, KISS THE GIRLS (1997)
Sissy Spacek: Oscar winning actress, COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER
Joe Pesci: American actor, GOODFELLAS (1990)
Jack Lemmon: American Actor, SOME LIKE IT HOT
Sally Kirkland: American Actress
Edward Asner: American Actor
Brian Doyle Murray: American Screenwriter/Actor - Brother of Bill Murray
Walter Matthau: American actor, THE ODD COUPLE/I'M NOT RAPPAPORT
John Candy: Canadian Actor/Comedian
Donald Sutherland: Canadian Actor
Director
Oliver Stone: Director/Screenwriter/Prod.
Producer
Oliver Stone: Director/Screenwriter/Prod.
A. Kitman Ho:
Clayton Townsend: Producer
Arnon Milchan: Producer
Kevin Reidy: Casting/"Bloodfist Ii"
Screenwriter
Oliver Stone: Director/Screenwriter/Prod.
Zachary Sklar: Screenwriter, JFK (1991)
Composer
John Williams: American film composer, STAR WARS (1977)
Editor
Pietro Scalia: Editor
Joe Hutshing: Editor, BROKEN ARROW (1996)
Director of Photography
Robert Richardson: Director of Photography, CASINO (1995)
Source Writer
Jim Garrison: AUTHOR\IN "JFK"
Source Writer
Jim Marrs: Author, CROSSFIRE: THE PLOT THAT KILLED KENNEDY, JFK (1991)
Post-Production Supervisor
Bill Brown: Post-Production Supervisor (mostly for O.Stone, J.Hughes)
Review 1:
"...Tremendously exciting....JFK is riveting..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.48-9 01/23/1992
Review 2:
"...Exciting entertainment....The film is expertly paced..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.49-50 02/01/1992
Review 3:
"...Oliver Stone was born to make this movie. He is a filmmaker of feverish energy and limitless technical skills..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.5 04/29/2001
Review 4:
"...Gripping and thought-provoking stuff..."
Source: Total Film
p.112 04/01/2001
Review 5:
"...Effective....Impassioned..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.F1 12/20/1991