Quick LinksThe Cruel Truth Behind Oliver Stone's 'JFK''jfk' Is History for Entertainment Purposes OnlyWhy Did Oliver Stone Mythologize an Absurd Footnote in Legal History?
Recently, President Donald Trump authorized the remaining files pertaining to the John F. Kennedy assassination to be declassified. For many people, their knowledge of the assassination comes from Oliver Stone’s 1991 courtroom thriller, JFK. However, it must be said that Stone's movie is largely fabricated and hasn't aged well, Stone whitewashing his "hero," New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, played by Kevin Costner. The real trial was an unmitigated trainwreck.
As for those secret papers, don’t get your hopes up. Hyped at the end of the film, the sealed findings of the 1976-79 United States House Select Committee on Assassinations are bound to disappoint, at least for those who took the movie JFK to heart. The movie might be a filmmaking tour de force,...
Recently, President Donald Trump authorized the remaining files pertaining to the John F. Kennedy assassination to be declassified. For many people, their knowledge of the assassination comes from Oliver Stone’s 1991 courtroom thriller, JFK. However, it must be said that Stone's movie is largely fabricated and hasn't aged well, Stone whitewashing his "hero," New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, played by Kevin Costner. The real trial was an unmitigated trainwreck.
As for those secret papers, don’t get your hopes up. Hyped at the end of the film, the sealed findings of the 1976-79 United States House Select Committee on Assassinations are bound to disappoint, at least for those who took the movie JFK to heart. The movie might be a filmmaking tour de force,...
- 2/9/2025
- by Nathan Williams
- MovieWeb
When it comes to historical biopics, theres arguably none more controversial than Oliver Stones 1991 smash hit, JFK. While it remains Stones highest-grossing film (with over $200 million worldwide on a budget of only $40 million) and earned rave critical reviews and several Oscar nominations (two of which it won), almost no one will call it historically accurate. Even calling it a biopic at all is a stretch, as Stone takes numerous creative liberties in order to argue the shocking assassination of John F. Kennedy was actually a conspiracy.
Fans of the film argue that Oliver Stone had no intentions of being historically accurate and that he was more concerned with capturing the feelings of distrust and paranoia that many felt after the assassination. Just as many people argue that the historical inaccuracies are too glaring to ignore and worse, that the movies promotion of conspiracy theories feels particularly uncomfortable in the 21st century.
Fans of the film argue that Oliver Stone had no intentions of being historically accurate and that he was more concerned with capturing the feelings of distrust and paranoia that many felt after the assassination. Just as many people argue that the historical inaccuracies are too glaring to ignore and worse, that the movies promotion of conspiracy theories feels particularly uncomfortable in the 21st century.
- 11/6/2024
- by Brian Kirchgessner
- MovieWeb
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