Review of JFK (1991) by Stephen E — 28 Dec 2012

Oliver Stone's JFK is an exceptional work of controversial matters, and a work I find to be reminiscent of David Fincher's Zodiac, where the lead character becomes obsessed with an otherwise "closed" case. It presents an interesting enough topic to attract an audience of legitimate size, and that topic is the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the conspiracy that surrounds it.

Some may find it's length (which stands at an astounding 3 and a half hours) to be a turn-off. Some may be at odds with the way that the story is presented, which is somewhat a blend of fact and fiction. I'll say that at the beginning, I sort of felt the same way, too. But once you get about ten minutes in and the story picks up, you can't help but find it interesting. Like I said, it's an interesting enough topic.

And the running time really isn't a problem. JFK whizzes right on by. Personally, when I spend money on a dvd, I like it to be a little long. Makes me feel like I got my money's worth.

The movie, as a whole, is very well-acted. It's got an ensemble cast, plus a couple of cameo-like appearances, and everyone is at the top of their game. The writing is great and so is the direction. They're not anything special or out-of-the-ordinary, but they're good, nonetheless.

Normally, I'm not attracted by an Oliver Stone film. They're just something about them that doesn't spark an sort of interest in me. It may have something to do with his recent career turn. Maybe I should pay more attention to his mid 80's to mid 90's filmography. I can see that that's where most of the magic is.