World Famous Comics: JFK - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
JFK - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman, Michael Rooker Directed By: Oliver Stone, Barbara Kopple, Danny Schechter Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Surround Sound, Widescreen, Director's Cut, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 2 Region Code: 1 Release Date: November 11, 2003 Running Time: 206 minutes Theatrical Release Date: December 20, 1991
Description: A film that chronicles New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison's investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It explores all the credible assassination theories that have raised the nation's persistent questions, doubts and suspicions.
Amazon.com essential video: Director Oliver Stone added 17 minutes of previously unseen footage for the "director's cut" edition of his hypnotic courtroom epic about the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963. That fateful day in Dallas set in motion a sequence of events that would only intensify the mystery behind Kennedy's death, causing New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) to begin an investigation that would gradually become a personal obsession. Bravura filmmaking combined with controversial treatment of historical facts and audacious speculation, this breathtaking revision of history presents a mesmerizing parade of shady figures and conspiracy theories, unfolding like a classic mystery based on history's greatest unsolved crime. A technical triumph boasting Oscar-winning cinematography and editing, Stone's film is guaranteed to grab the viewer's attention with its daring take on the JFK controversy. The stellar supporting cast includes Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pesci, Jack Lemmon, Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek, Kevin Bacon, and Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald. --Jeff Shannon
"It's Up To You" I haven't viewed this movie since it came out, but after tonight's viewing, it still holds up as an engrossing and entertaining experience. Some of it maybe fiction and some not, but as for Oswald being the lone assassin, I just don't believe it. When you hear Mr.X describe his theory, it comes eerily close to what out current President has done with Iraq. I gave this edition only 4 stars because they really didn't need to fluff this one up by 17 minutes, a reason why it was left on the cutting room floor for theatrical release is quite apparent. But do watch and decide for yourself...it is up to you and every American to decide and debate amongst yourselves.
OLIVER STONE INVENTING HISTORY ONCE AGAIN So we are lead to believe that the JFK conspiracy was the most complex and perfect assignation that ever took place. Nothing was over looked every i was dotted . Then how do conspiracy Freaks explain the Zapruder Film. The Zapruder Film is the proof that there was no conspiracy It was the perfect conspiracy nothing was over looked except the Guy with the Movie Camera filming the whole thing.
Why are the only Two conspiracies the United states Government can keep secret are The JFK assignation and the Roswell Saucer crash.
Answer: Because both of the above never happened
In terms of pure filmmaking, this film is a masterpiece.... If you jettison the politics of this movie (and Stone's reputation as a muckracker), and simply look at JFK as a film, it's arguably Oliver Stone's best film and it is absolutely rivetting. It's a masterpiece of cinemtography, editing, writing, and performances. I've only seen the initial 189 minute theatrical version, and that film is my favorite Oliver Stone film. Stone's scope of this project is incredible. He not only makes an epic about the JFK assassination, but he makes it so fascinating and enthralling that you marvel as his talents as a filmmaker. The cinematography here is astounding. Robert Richardson shoots in 35mm, 8mm, and 16mm, color, black and white, tinted color, tinted black and white, and it all blends seamlessly. The editing on this monster is also a marvel (it deservedly won an Oscar for editing). The film has a ton of cuts (something in films I don't like), but Stone and his editors do wonders with it. The performances deserve special mention as well. Costner is very effective as Jim Garrison, the New Orleans prosecutor who believed in the conspiracy of JFK's assassination. Costner does a New Orleans accent very well, much better than his rather pathetic "English" one for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. There are numerous cameos in the film, but they don't feel like cameos. Stone manages to make each actor/character unique and interesting. It never feels like star spotting. Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Kevin Bacon, Donald Sutherland, Joe Pesci, and Ed Asner (as a right wing demogagoue, which is funny considering Asner is a very left wing liberal) are standouts in a magnificent cast.
When you watch this film, think of it as "Stone's interpretation of the JFK assassination". There are numerous discrepancies here (such as Garrison meeting with Mr. X, played by Sutherland. That never happened), but if you look at this film strictly as a film, it's remarkable and worthy of the accolades it has received over the years. It's one of Oliver Stone's most memorable films, and a reminder of what a great director he can be when he's on.
Very well made movie - just don't go looking for real history Stone, more than just about anyone in hollywood, has taken an assortment of God given talents and sqandered them on a career spent in creating his own version of history. What Stone doesn't understand is that if he would have just stuck with facts - instead of expanding on theories generally accepted as crackpot - this would have been a very good movie. I'd like to give it more stars but can't get past the idea that Stone is spewing out his own agenda.
Good if you don't care about real facts.
Oliver Stone's masterpiece This controversial film by Oliver Stone on the JFK assasination has taken on a life all its own. I recently saw it again on HD Net and I was drawn into it all over again by the brilliant performances, Stone's direction and the story itself. Many people have criticized Stone for taking liberties with the story but this is not a documentary this is a drama!! Costner is brilliant in particular and his summation scene in court is belongs to his best work (also counting his role in Eastwood's "A Perfect World"). The aim of an artist is to make us question the truth and Stone has certainly succeeded at that. Remember how many people felt the plot in "The Manchurian Candidate" grows eerily factual as time goes by!! If you are repelled by the current events now unfolding before us--the Iraq war, the recession--do see this film again!!
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