This film really shouldn't be that good. Most of the film is exposition, people just talking about what has happened. However, the brilliance of the film is that it's not boring for a second. Oliver Stone has truly made a masterpiece. Along with his editor and sound designer, they have crafted a visually thrilling journey through the labyrinthine plot against the president. As the plot unravels, the scenes pick up speed and the editing becomes more jagged. The sound becomes layered with a subtle ticking clock underneath.
The other driving force is the cast, which is loaded with amazing performances. Kevin Costner as DA Jim Garrison is the central reason the film works. Costner has been known to dial in a performance or two, but when he gets a role he really cares about (see DANCES WITH WOLVES and all three of his baseball films) he really drives home a powerful, convincing performance. Garrison is his best and he really grabs you with his "man in search of the truth" passion. There's a great character scene close to the end when the film slows down a bit (like reaching the eye of the storm) where Garrison can open up to his wife (Sissy Spacek, IN THE BEDROOM). That quiet scene leads right into the courthouse climax where Costner really excels. His closing monologue is one of the best ever — just listen for the quiver in his voice. Plus, Stone throws at us one of my favorite shots in movie history when Garrison finishes his speech and looks directly into the camera to include the audience in on the fight for justice.
In addition to Costner, we are treated with brilliant performances from Tommy Lee Jones (THE FUGITIVE) as rich businessman Clay Shaw, Joe Pesci (GOODFELLAS) as anti-Castro rebel David Ferrie, Gary Oldman (PROFESSIONAL) as Lee Harvey Oswald and John Candy (GREAT OUTDOORS) in his best performance as the jive-talking lawyer Dean Andrews. We even get the real Jim Garrison (now a judge in Louisiana) playing Superior Court justice Earl Warren, who was in charge of the very flawed governmental report regarding the assassination.
Whether or not all the information presented is true or not is not the point. The greatness of the movie lies in questioning the "facts" that the government has presented us. This film is not an anti-U.S. film, it's actually one of the most patriotic because Garrison still believes in the ideal principles for which this country was formed on and he doesn't want to see a bunch of killers and crooks ruin those principles. Whatever you believe about the Kennedy assassination, this passionate pursuit of the truth reminds us that dissent can be a patriotic act.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
