Right, so this is yet ANOTHER revisitation of a post that I have done on this blog and given that it is the anniversary of the Kennedy assassination, I figured it was worth doing some slight revisements to my post regarding this topic. And the post I am revisiting is of course Oliver Stone's epic courtroom drama, JFK.
So after 27 years how does this film stack up??? Well, let's take yet another look and find out.
Oh and yeah, the usual warning is coming up....
SPOILERS ARE AHEAD!!!
STORY
So the story starts with pre-credits explaining the events leading up to Kennedy's assassination (narrated by Martin Sheen). On the day of the assassination, in New Orleans, District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) is informed by one of his staff Lou Barnes (Jay Sanders) of the crime. After Kennedy's death is announced officially on television, the suspected assassin Lee Harvey Oswald (Gary Oldman) is arrested and taken to the station for questioning.
Garrison then plans to investigate any suspects and associates of Lee Harvey Oswald's that might be under his jurisdiction in New Orleans, however before he can do that, Oswald is assassinated live on TV by Dallas mob man Jack Ruby (Brian Doyle Murray). Regardless of Oswald's shock assassination, Garrison brings in one of Oswald's alleged known associates, David Ferrie (Joe Pesci) who naturally denies he ever knew Oswald. However Ferrie gives a very shaky account of his activities on the day of the assassination which Garrison doesn't believe and has Ferrie detained for more questioning by the FBI, regardless of this though Ferrie is let go, after which Garrison decides not to continue investigating any further.
Three years later in 1966, after sharing a conversation with a senator, Russell Long (played by Walter Matthau) on an airplane, Garrison starts to have serious doubts and suspicions about the events of the assassination and that Oswald was the lone gunman. So, Garrison starts to dig around and he reads the Warren Report which was published by Warren Commission and conducted by chief judge Earl Warren (played by Garrison himself). However Garrison is far from impressed with the report as he feels it is riddled with inaccuracies and is sloppy and disorganised. So it is not long before Garrison decides to re-open the investigation of the crime.
Garrison then with his small team, begin to question many different witnesses to the shooting, and potential suspects that may have been connected to the assassination. As Garrison and his team investigate further, a name that keeps popping up is Clay Bertrand, who is later revealed to be Clay Shaw (played by Tommy Lee Jones) a well respected businessman and entrepeneur.
However on bringing Shaw in for questioning, Shaw categorically denies any knowledge of Oswald, Ferrie or any one else potentially involved in the conspiracy, as well as denying his Clay Bertrand alias. But soon after their meeting, Garrison's investigation is made public and soon the press and media come down hard on him. Now forced to operate out in the open, Garrison faces tough choices ahead of him in carrying out his investigation, after receiving various death threats, crank calls, and narrowly escaping frame ups to discredit him.
Eventually after rigorous investigations, including a discussion with an ex-military figure who simply calls himself "X" (Donald Sutherland) who provides him with important background knowledge to the events surrounding the assassination, Garrison decides to arrest Shaw and prosecute him for his possible involvement in the alleged conspiracy to assassinate Kennedy.
And what follows after this is a lengthy trial sequence where Garrison presents his case for the prosecution of Clay Shaw as well as his speculation on the events on the day of the assassination in Dallas.
THOUGHTS ON THE FILM AND THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES
JFK is without a doubt a great achievement in its own, as Oliver Stone took a controversial subject and turned into a fascinating, gripping and intelligent film. If you look at the events and evidence that are presented in the film, it certainly does a great job at convincing you that there was a possible conspiracy involved. Jim Garrison himself showed tremendous moral courage and character in bringing such a trial to the public eye, as he himself faced great danger in enraging the government and endangering his own life in the process.
However Garrison is never potrayed as anything else other than a very decent man who in reality at first was never really keen on Kennedy at the time but during his investigation came to admire him for what he stood for during his time as the president before his untimely tragic death. Oliver Stone himself based the film on Jim Garrison's book, "On The Trail of the Assassins" (which details Garrison's trial to prosecute Clay Shaw) as well as "Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy" by Jim Marrs.
But whether or not a conspiracy took place in Dallas that day or not, no one really knows, but the film certainly does its best to convince the viewer that there was one. One of key aspects of the assassination as highlighted in the film was that it seemed highly unlikely that Oswald could have fired 3 shots that from the book depository window, in such a short space of time (5-7 seconds), and do it with such precision from the distance he was at from the motorcade. And that is where the other riflemen come into the equation and the scenario of a team that would be able to place themselves in fixed positions to ensure the assassination would be carried out precisely.
Another crucial crux of the film and the case was, there had to be more than just 3 shots, as if for no better reason, there were four known wounds, three to Kennedy (in the throat, back and head) and one to Governor Conally (one in the back). This is where the Warren Commission presented the ridiculous "magic bullet" theory that one bullet accounted for the wounds between Connally and Kennedy. Also based from the facts given from the film, it seems unlikely that if after Oswald committed the crime, that he would be able race down the stairs in about 90 seconds, only to face a police officer who was checking out the building, to ask whom he was, and appear not to be out of breath, which the policeman testified later that Oswald was absolutely not out of breath.
Another theory however that has been stated over the years was the final headshot that killed Kennedy was in fact fired by one of the secret service agents, George Hickey in one of the car's behind Kennedy's parade car in which Hickey accidentally fired off a round from his M16 gun in the confusion which caused the fatal head shot that killed Kennedy. Then there is the film footage, taken by an onlooker Abraham Zapruder, which shows the assassination itself, and gives possible clues of the direction of where the bullets came from.
Another key point was surely, if Oswald was even the lone gunman, he would not have acted alone, as he must been acting on behalf of powerful people behind the scenes, in this regard Oswald himself could well have been a sleeper cell, who was set in motion at the key moment, but again this is just a bit of speculation, but I personally have never bought into the possibility that Oswald was just as Garrison says in the film "an angry lone nut" who carried out the assassination purely by himself. However in recent years the theory involving Hickey is considered to be more accurate given that the type of shot fired from his M16 machine gun was far more powerful and destructive than the first two shots fired at Kennedy.
PERFORMANCES AND NOTABLE SCENES (Warning: this section contains spoilers and strong language!)
Anyway moving onto the performances, well this is where JFK really excels as a film with a superb cast.
And starting with Kevin Costner who gives a fine performance as the DA Jim Garrison, who takes on the daunting task of bringing the JFK assassination to trial, he also shows Garrison as being a very moral man, as well as being very strong and stubborn in the face of adversity.
Costner has many highlights in the film that include the scene where Garrison opens up the case off the assassination again as he takes two of his staff, Bill and Lou on a walkabout of New Orleans government locations.
So, Garrison in the scene says to them both "We are standing in the heart...of the US government's intelligence community in New Orleans.That's the FBl. That's the CIA. That's the Secret Service. That's the ONI. Isn't this a strange place for a Communist to spend his spare time?!". And Lou asks Garrison "What ya drivin at boss?" and Garrison tells him "We're going back into the case, Lou. The murder of the president". And as they walk off, Bill sighs and says "Lord wake me up, I must be dreaming!" and Garrison says to him "No, you're awake and I'm deadly serious!".
Then there is the scene as Garrison finishes up his tense meeting with Shaw, Shaw says to him "Regardless of what you may think of me, I am a patriot first and foremost". However, Garrison then furiously tells Shaw "I've spent half my life in the military...defending my country, Mr Shaw. You're the first person I've met who considered it an act of partriotism to murder his own President!". Bill then steps and diffuses the tension and ends the meeting and after Shaw walks out, Garrison looks on and quotes from Shakespeare's Hamlet "One may smile and smile and be a villain". Then he says to his team "Goddamnit, we've got one of them! You see that?!".
Another highlight of Costner's is when Garrison and his wife argue and as she yells at him "I want my life back!" he shouts back "So do I, goddamnit! I have a life too you know! But you can't just bury your head in the sand like some ostrich, Liz! Its not about our house, our two cars, and our kitchen! Its about our kids growing up in a shithole of lies and I'm angry about it! And my life is fucked because of it, and if you can see it that way then you're life is fucked too!".
Costner also has some other good moments such as the scene where he argues with one of his staff, Bill Broussard (Michael Rooker) who argues that the mob could have been behind the assassination and Garrison refutes the idea. And Garrison says "Could the mob change the parade route, Bill? Could the mob influence the national media to go to sleep? I mean could the mob get Oswald into and Russia and get him back??? And when have the mob used anything but 38.s for hits up close??? The mob wouldn't have the guts or power for something of this magnetude! Assassins need paryolls, schedules, times, orders! This was a military style ambush! This was a coupe de'tat with Lyndon Johnson waiting in the wings!".
And as Bill tries to refute what Garrison says, Garrison then asks Bill "You ever read your Shakespare, Bill?" and Bill says "Yeah, I do!". Garrison then quotes from Julius Caesar "Julius Caesar? "Brutus and Cassius, they too are honorable men." Who killed Caesar? Ten or twelve Senators. All it takes is one Judas, Bill. A few people on the inside. Pentagon, CIA!". And after Bill angrily storms out, Garrison then has it out with Lou, who gives Garrison his ultimatum that he can't work with Bill anymore as he doesn't trust him. So, Garrison says to Lou "Well, I won't have any damn ultimatum put to me, Lou. I'll accept your resignation". Lou then leaves and we hear Suzie says to Garrison "Boss, aren't you bein a little hard?" and Garrison tells her "No, I don't think I am, Suzie. Anyone else??".
Then there is of course Costner's very lengthy court monologue, which features some great moments such as where Garrison discusses the ridiculous nature of the magic bullet theory which he describes as "One of the grossest lies ever forced on the American people!". And after he explains the supposed wounds created by the bullet he says to the jury "That's some bullet! But the government says they can prove it with some fancy physics in a nuclear laboratory. Of course they can. Pheoretical physics can prove an elephant can hang from a cliff with its tail tied to a daisy! But use your eyes and your common sense!".
Then there is the scene where Garrison shows the footage of the murder and he says at the moment of the fatal head shot to Kennedy we see Kennedy fall violently back and to the left. So, Garrison says to the court "This is the key shot. The President going back and to his left...shot from the front and right. Totally inconsistent with the shot from the Depository. Again. Back, and to the left. Back, and to the left. Back, and to the left" as the footage is repeated just as Kennedy takes the fatal headshot. And Garrison then says "So what happens then? Pandemonium!".
And last of all there is the part near the end of Costner's epic monologue to the jury and where Garrison becomes emotional and shows the court members a collection of money and cards from the public being sent to his office. So, Garrison tearfully tells them "These are people who cannot afford to send money but do! People who drive cabs...who nurse in hospitals...who see their kids go to Vietnam!". Garrison then becomes very emotional and tries to hold back the tears as his voice breaks "Why?! Because they care. Because they want to know the truth. Because they want their country back. Because it still belongs to us! As long as the people have the guts to fight for what they believe in!"
And Garrison finally finishes off his emotional speech to the court and says "Do not forget your dying king. Show this world that this is still a government of the people, for the people and by the people. Nothing as long as you live will ever be more important. Its up to you" and he goes back to sit down to await the verdict of his case.
Joe Pesci also probably gives the film's best performance as Dave Ferrie, the crazed suspect (replete with a ridiculous wig and eyebrows and a rather exagerrated Southern accent!) who later admits to his involvement with Oswald, as he shows a mixture of malice and remorse.
Pesci also has some great moments as the paranoid Ferrie and his first scene is great when Ferrie is taken into Garrison's office for questioning over his whereabouts of the weekend of the assassination, but Ferrie's story is filled with holes, so Garrison detains him for further questioning. And Ferrie asks why and Garrison replies "Dave I find your story simply not believable!" and Ferrie appears surprised and says "Really?! What part?".
Another good scene from Pesci is in the flashback scene where Willie O'Keefe recalls a time where Ferrie had a party with Shaw, O'Keefe and some others as Ferrie discusses a potential assassination plot on JFK. So, Ferrie in the scene angrily says to the others and he holds a knife "I will kill! In the White House! I'll stab him right in his fucking heart!" and throws the knife he was holding down and says "Somebody's gotta get rid of this fucker!". Ferrie then pitches a potential plan to take out Kennedy and he says "If it's planned right, no problem. Look how close they got to De Gaulle. Eisenhower always rode in open top. We need three mechanics in three different locations. An office building, a high-powered rifle. Triangulation of crossfire, that's the key! That's the key! A diversionary shot gets the Secret Service looking one way. Boom! Get the kill shot! One man has to be sacrificed. In the commotion, the job gets done!".
Then there is the scene where Ferrie calls Lou from a pay phone just after Garrison's investigation is leaked into the press, which affects him as he sees press hanging around his apartment nearby. So, Ferrie angrily phones up and Lou and asks him "Did your office plant that garbage in the fuckin paper?!" and Lou asks "Who is this?" and Ferrie shouts "You know exactly who the FUCK this is!!". Lou then realises its Ferrie and Ferrie asks him angrily "Since you're the only straight shoot in that fucking office, I'd like a fucking answer! Did you plant it?!". Lou then explains that is the last thing they wanted and Ferrie continues to angrily rant at Lou "Somebody planted that fuckin story! Somebody tipped off the press! I'm one of fucking Garrison's suspects!". Ferrie then angrily hits the phone receiver against the phone box and shouts "I CAN'T GO HOME!! The fuckin maggots are everywhere! Did you know what they've done to me??!". Lou then tries to calm Ferrie down and tells him not to jump to conclusions but Ferrie insists "From hereon I'm a fucking dead man! A DEAD MAN!!".
And lastly there is Pesci's best scene in the film where Ferrie in a state of panic and paranoia nervously paces a hotel room where Garrison and his men keep him after a newspaper article is released implicating Ferrie.
And in the scene Ferrie babbles saying "But who the fuck pulls who's chain?! Who the fuck knows? "Oh what a deadly web we weave and we practice to decieve!". And Garrison asks him who killed the president which sets off Ferrie into a demented rant "Oh why don't you fuckin stop it?! This is too fuckin big for you, you know that?! Who killed Kennedy... fuck man! Its a mystery, its a riddle wrapped inside an enigma! The fuckin shooters don't even know it, don't you get it?! FUCK MAN!! I can't go on talking like this! THEY'LL FUCKIN KILL ME! I'M GONNA FUCKING DIE!". And Ferrie goes on to lament about how he wanted to become a catholic priest but was defrocked because of his homosexuality and he sits back saying "I'm so fucking exhausted I can't see straight!".
Tommy Lee Jones gives an excellent performance also as Clay Shaw, and he depicts as a very sly businessman, who is clearly also very manipulative and Jones appears to revel in playing up the transparent villainous qualities of the character.
Jones has some great moment also such as the scene when Willy O'Keefe recalls to Garrison a meeting Willy had with Shaw, Oswald and Ferrie, where Ferrie conspires to kill Kennedy and suggests how they could do it and Shaw dismisses him and says "David! David! Always some harebrained scheme or other!". And Shaw says to Ferrie after he lays down his plot to kill Kennedy "What don't we drop this subject. Its one thing to engage in banter with these youngsters, but this sort of thing can get so easily misunderstood!" before crushing Ferrie's testicles to shut him up!
And in his best and main scene Jones as Shaw refutes every accusation that Garrison makes at him as he keeps asking if he met with David Ferrie or Oswald and Shaw is aghast and says "You really have me assorting with a sordid cast of characters!". Garrison then asks him "Have you ever met Lee Harvey-Oswald?" and Shaw says "Course not! Such a pity that assassination. In fact I admired Kennedy. Man of true panache. Wife of impeccable taste!".
Then as they are about to finish up, Garrison finally asks Shaw "Have you ever been a contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency?". And Shaw just stares at Garrison for a moment and says "If I were...do you really believe I would sitting here, talking to someone like you???". Garrison then says "No. People like you don't have to, I guess!" and Shaw asks "May I go?" and Garrison, riled continues "People like you just walk between the rain drops!" and Shaw again asks "May I go?" and Garrison says "Yes". So, Shaw puts out his cigarette and stands up and says to Garrison "Regardless of what you may think of me, Mr Garrison, I am a patriot first and foremost...". And as Garrison accuses Shaw of considering an act of patriotism to murder the president, Shaw angrily says "Now wait a minute, sir you are way out of line!".
The other smaller character performances in the film are equally impressive, such as Michael Rooker as Bill, one of Garrison's staff, who appears to turn on Garrison near the end.
Rooker also has some good scenes, such as the one where Garrison takes Bill and Lou on a walking tour around the locations of the government intelligence community in New Orleans and setting them up for the news that he is taking on the case of the assassination. So as Garrisons says to Lou "We're going back into the case, Lou. The murder of the president" Bill says "Oh, Lord wake me up I must be dreaming!" and Garrison says "No, you're awake, Bill and I'm deadly serious! Let's track down your anonymous source from three years ago. How'd you find out David Ferrie drove to Texas that day?". And Bill replies "Hell, I can't remember last night let alone three years ago, boss!".
Let's track down your anonymous source from three years ago. How'd you find out David Ferrie drove to Texas that day? Read more: https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=jfk
Another good scene is when (SPOILER!!) Garrison turns up at the scene of Ferrie's apartment where they find him dead and two unsigned suicide notes, which Bill reads from one of them. And Lou advises Garrison "The fact is, he's gone, chief and so is our case. Unless we go for Shaw now". However, Bill angrily says to Lou "With whose testimony?! O'Keefe, a male prostitute?! Jack Martin, a drunk?! Vernon Bundy, a dope fiend?! Shaw's got respect, Lou! Newspaper editors, American Bar Association...!". However Lou angrily says to Bill if they keep on waiting then Shaw will also be killed and how many corpses will it take for him to figure it out, So, Bill shouts back "Watch your mouth! Ferrie did this to himself!". At this point, Garrison walks off and Bill asks him "Where are you going, boss?" and Garrison says "I don't know, Bill...I just don't know...!".
Then there is the scene where Bill tries to persuade Garrison that he is taking the wrong route and he rants at Garrison and the team. So, Bill shouts at them "How the hell can you keep a conspiracy going...between the mob, CIA, FBl, Army intelligence and who knows what else...when you can't keep a secret in this room between 12 people?!! I mean, we got leaks everywhere. We are going to trial, y'all! What the hell do we really got?! Oswald, Ruby, Banister, and Ferrie are dead! Maybe Shaw is an agent. I don't know. But as a covert operator, he is wide open for blackmail because of his homosexuality!".
Then as Bill lays down his theory about the mob being behind the assassination, Garrison acknowledges they may have been involved but at a much lower level and he goes on to even implicate the then current president, Lyndon Johnson. And Bill, who is outraged yells at Garrison "BOSS!! BOSS!! Are you callin the president a murderer!". Garrison then asks Bill if they aren't so close to the truth why are their offices being bugged and their witnesses being bought off or murdered. And Bill says "I don't know! Maybe there is some rogue element in the government or something!" but Garrison then asks if Bill reads his Shakespeare and quotes "Julius Caesar" and how it takes just "One Judas, Bill".
So, Bill get's fed up and says before storming out of the office "This is Louisiana, chief! I mean how the hell do you know who your daddy is??! Because your momma told you so! You are way out there taking a crap in the wind, boss! And I am for one not goin along on this one!".
Jay Sanders is also excellent as Lou Barnes, who was in reality one of Garrison's key members of staff (although the film depicts Barnes as quitting the investigation, according to Stone in his DVD commentary in reality he didn't).
Sanders also has some good moments such as the scene where Lou and Garrison are at the book despository building with the rifle that Oswald used and he does a demo of firing and reload the empty rifle and he goes over the specifics of the improbabilities of Oswald being able to pull off three precise shots. And Lou says "Take this Carcano, world's worst shoulder weapon...and try to hit a moving target at 88 yards through heavy foliage. No way! FBI tried two sets of tests. Not one sharpshooter could match Oswald's performance. Not one! Oswald was at best a medium shot.
The scope was defective on it too. This is the whole essence of the case to me. The guy couldn't do the shooting! Nobody could. And they sold this lemon to the American public".
And when Garrison asks Lou why didn't they just shoot Kennedy as his parade car drove on Houston, which was a more direct line of fire for a single shooter, Lou tells him his theory regarding why they chose the route they did for the kill. So, Lou says "The only reason to get him on Elm...is you got him in a triangulated crossfire. You put a team there down at the fence. Frontal shot. Flat, low trajectory. Put a third team down in this building on a low floor. When Kennedy gets in the kill zone, it's a turkey shoot!".
And lastly there is the scene where Lou demands to Garrison that he can no longer work with Bill because he doesn't trust he says "I cannot work with Bill Broussard anymore" and when Garrison asks if he is giving him an ultimatum, Lou says "Well if that's what you wanna call it?! Hell I never thought it would come to this. I guess I am". And Garrison says "Well, I won't have any damn ultimatum put to me, Lou. I'll accept your resignation". Lou then looks stunned and says "Well you sure got it!" and before he walks out he says to Garrison "You are one stubborn son of a bitch! And you are making one hell of a mistake".
Laurie Metcalf as Susie, another staff member, is also very good and she has some good moments in the film, the main one being where Garrison's team meet for lunch and she goes over the file history of Oswald's character and background.
Laurie has some good moments as well such as the scene where Susie meets with Garrison and the other team members for lunch and she reads out all the info she has on Oswald. And she says to the others "I've got his grammar school records. Its a study of his pubic hairs!" as well as revealing her anxiety over how a spy aircraft was shot down and maybe someone didn't want the peace conference between the Russians and the Americans. And Susie says to the others "I can't help but think that someone in our military didn't want the conference to happen. Maybe Oswald was a part of that!".
And later on Metcalf has another good moment where she says to Bill, who has been gotten to by the Government at this point (unawares to Garrison and the others) "Or a cover up??? Jesus Bill, don't you have enough proof of the FBI's complicity yet?!!". And after Bill storms out and Lou resigns from the case, Susie asks Garrison "Boss, aren't you being a little hard?" and Garrison replies "No, I don't think I am, Susie. Anyone else?".
Also Kevin Bacon, is excellent as Willie O'Keefe (who in reality was based on one of Garrison's key witnesses, Perry Russo) the gay prostitute who claimed to have known and had sexual relations with Shaw.
And Bacon's main scene is quite impressive where Willie recalls meeting Oswald and his involvement with Shaw and Ferrie. And as Garrison asks Willie if he will testify and if he does what he says will be attacked by different people and Willie dismisses it and says "Oh bring all those motherfuckers on in here with their college degrees! I've got nothing to hide! You know this about the truth coming out! You goddamn liberal, Mr Garrison, you don't know shit because you never been fucked in the ass! This is about order! Who rules!".
Garrison then asks Willie why he is telling them this and Willie says "Cause that motherfucker Kennedy...stole that motherfucking election, that's why. Nixon was going to be a great President until Kennedy wrecked this country. Niggers wanting rights! Why do you think we have all this crime. He promised those motherfuckers too much! Revolution's coming, bullshit! Fascism's coming back! The day that Communist son of a bitch died was a great day! A GREAT day for this country! I hate to think they blame it on silly, fucking Oswald! Didn't know shit, anyway, man! People got to know. People got to know why he was killed. Because he was a Communist". Willie then finishes by saying "Go ahead, man. Put me on the stand, man. I'll tell the same goddamn story! Don't matter fuck all to me!".
And Bacon finishes the scene with Garrison saying "Thank you, Willie. We'll be in touch". And as Garrison walks off with Bill, Willie shouts out "You know you ain't a bad looking man, Mr Garrison. Not bad lookin at all! When I get out, I'll come see you, we can have some fun!".
Sissy Spacek is also very good in her role as Garrison's with Liz, who has to suffer her husband's obssessions with the JFK case throughout the film. And Sissy's best scene comes when Liz argues with Garrison after their daughter recieves a crank call from someone saying she has been entered into a beauty contest. However, Garrison is less interested as he watches the breaking news that Martin Luther King was assassinated on TV.
However, Liz anxiously asks Garrison "Did you enter Virginia in a beauty contest? A man called and asked her height, her weight..." and Garrison simply answers "Its just some crackpot...". Liz then angrily says "Jim, you're own daughter's life has just been threatened!" but Garrison insists "Its just a crank call. It happens a dozen times a day at the office!". Liz, however continues "Before this Kennedy thing, your children mattered most. The other night you didn't even notice Jasper. He came to me bawling his eyes out. Is it such a chore?!". Garrison then angrily responds "GODDAMNIT! If I said I will spend more time with him I will! Now, I can't fight you and the whole world too, Liz!" and Liz says "I'm not fighting you, I'm trying to reach you! You've changed!".
And Garrison says of course he has changed and that what he sees around him is insane and asks her doesn't Martin Luther King's murder have a connection with JFK and he picks up a book at points at the TV and shouts "Can't you see???!!!". Liz however is exasperated with Garrison and says "I don't wanna see, goddamnit! I'm tired! I've had enough!" and then she speaks of Shaw "You're runing this man Shaw's life. You're attacking him because he's a homosexual!" but Garrison insists "That's not why I'm attacking him!". Liz then asks Garrison "Did you ever stop to consider his feelings?!" and Garrison looks at her in disbelief and says "You don't believe me?! All this time and you never believed me!". And Liz emotionally says "I just want to raise our children and live a normal life. I WANT MY LIFE BACK!".
Donald Sutherland is similarly great as the mysterious "X" who delivers a very lengthy 17 minute dialogue giving Garrison the background info surrounding the events leading up to the assassination.
And Sutherland's monologue is so lengthy that is hard to pick some examples, but I will mention just a few.
For starters there is the moment where X first introduces himself to Garrison and when Garrison asks his name, X says "I could give you a false name but I won't. Just call me "X". Garrison then says to X that he has already been warned by the agency and if this is another threat but then X interrupts him and says "I'm not with the agency, Mr Garrison. But I'm not going to give you names of who or what I represent, just to say that you're close. You're closer than you think".
So in the scene, Garrison is stunned by all the info that X has bombarded him with and Garrison says to X "I can't believe it, they killed him cos they wanted to change things...in our time....in our country?". And X smiles and says "They've done it throughout history! Kings are killed, Mr Garrison! Politics is power, nothing more! Don't take my word for it. Do your own thinking". Garrison then asks X if he will testify and X smiles and says "No chance in hell! No, I'd be arrested and gagged. Maybe sent to an institution.Maybe worse. You too. I can give you the background.
You find the foreground, the little things. Dig, you're the only one to bring a trial in Kennedy's murder. That's important. It's historic!".
And as Garrison says he hasn't much of a case, X says "You don't have a choice anymore. You've become a significant threat to the national security structure! They would have killed you already but you've got alot of light on you. Instead they are trying to destroy your credibility. Be honest, your only chance is to come up with a case. Something, anything! Make arrests, stir the shit storm, hope to reach a point of critical mass that will start a chain reaction of people coming forward then the government will crack. Remember, fundamentall people are suckers for the truth, and the truth is on your side, Bubba. I just hope you get a break".
Also there is the superb Jack Lemmon as Jack Martin, an assistant to a private eye detective, Guy Banister, who is great in his role as the down and out drunk, who Garrison approaches earlier on in the film. And Jack tells Garrison what happened in Guy's office during the summer of 63 and Jack recalls "Hell, Guy's dead, so it don't matter no more. It was all about those...people that was hanging around the office that summer. I was never part of the operation. I just handled their private-eye work as it came in for Guy. Not much did, but that's why I was there. It was a nuthouse. Cubans coming, going. And Christ, they all looked the same to me". And we cut to seeing Guy's office, which is filled with Cubans as well as David Ferrie being there dressed in commando gear. Guy then says "David Ferrie...you know him?" and Garrison says "Yeah, we know Dave. Was he there?" and Jack exclaims "Christ! He practically lived there!".
Then toward the end of the scene when Garrison asks Jack if there was anyone else at Guy's level that Guy dealt with, so Jack tries to recall Clay Shaw's name as we see a flashback of Shaw being warmly greeted by Guy, who invites him into his office. So, Jack tries to remember "One guy. I don't know who. Big. White hair. I saw him in the office once. He looked out of place. You know, a society guy. Can't remember his name, but Oswald was with him. He had something to do with money, because Banister never kissed ass but he kissed his!" and he chuckles. Then as Jack says "Clay...something..." and Garrison offers "Clay Bertrand?" Jack suddenly says "Yeah!" but then suddenly panics as he feels he has said too much and he backtracks and says "Yeah, well I don't know...".
So, as Jack tries to leave, Garrison asks what is the problem and Jack says "What's the problem?! Do I have to spell it out for you, Mr Garrison?!". And as Garrison says "No one knows we're talking about here, Jack" Jack just stares at Garrison in disbelief and says "You are so niave!" and he walks off.
Ed Asner is also good in his brief role as Guy Banister the private eye, who was a former FBI man and was said to be closely linked to behind the scenes of the assassination, but Banister died shortly after in 1964.
Asner has a couple of good scenes, particularly his first scene where he cheers Kennedy's death in a bar and he says "All this blubbing over that no count son of a bitch! They're balling like they knew the man!". Guy then cynically says "That's what happens when you let the niggers vote. They get together with the Jews and the Catholics...and elect an Irish bleeding heart!". Jack then says "Chief, maybe you had too much to drink" and Guy says "Bullshit!" and he raises his glass and says "Here's to the New Frontier. Camelot in smithereens. I'll drink to that!" and he empty his drink on the floor.
And as Guy and Jack walk drunkenly back to Guy's office, Guy accuses Jack of going through his files when he isn't there. So, Guy says "Who's been going through my files? You've been looking through my files, you little weasel!". Jack then tries to laugh it off and says "You're becoming paranoid, you really are!" but Guy continues "You went through all my files! You're a goddamn spy!". Jack denies it and says he's already seen enough during the summer to write a book, which really makes Guy paranoid. So, Guy angrily accuses him "What do you mean, you bastard? You're going to write a book?!". And as Jack says he's seen alot of strange things and people there, Guy suddenly takes out a pistol and hits Jack with it and yells at him "You didn't see a goddamn thing, you little weasel! YOU DIDN'T SEE A GODDAMN THING!!!".
John Candy is also great in his role as the sleazy lawyer, Dean Andrews who apparently met with Oswald and spoke with Shaw but he refutes any claims that he knows the identity of Shaw who used the alias of Clay Bertrand.
So, as Garrison pressures Dean to answer his question as to who Clay Bertrand really is, Dean asks Garrison "Are we off the record, Daddio?" and Garrison shrugs to say "yes", so Dean says "Well, let me sum it up for you real quick!". So, Dean lights a cigarette and anxiously says "If I answer that question you keep asking...if I give you the name of the big enchilada...then it's bon voyage, Deano. Like a bullet in my head, you dig? You're a mouse fighting a gorilla. JFK's dead as that crabmeat. The government's still breathing! Do you want to line up with a dead man?!".
And at the end of the scene as Garrison threatens Dean by saying "You're either gonna reveal the true identity of the real Clay Bertrand, or you fat behind is going to the slammer. Now, you dig me?!". And Dean suddenly stands up and shouts "You're crazy as your mama!!! Goes to show its in the genes! You any idea what you're getting yourself into, Daddio?!". Dean then stands up and puts his hat on as he prepares to leave and he tells Garrison "The government is gonna jump all over your head, Jimbo, and go cocka-doodle-doo! Good day to your, sir!" and he walks out.
Brian Doyle Murray is excellent in his role as Jack Ruby, the mobster, who killed Oswald live on television, the following day after the assassination.
And Murray's main scene is when Ruby meets with Chief Judge, Earl Warren (played by Garrison himself) in prison and Ruby tells Warren "Mr. Chief Justice, do you understand that I can't tell the truth in Dallas? There are people here who do not want me to tell the truth". Warren then asks to Ruby "Why don't you tell us now?" and Ruby angrily responds "My life is in danger! If you request that I go to Washington... That is, if you want to hear further testimony from me. Can you take me with you?!". Warren responds by saying "No. It can't be done. There would be no safe place for you".
Ruby then says "If I'm eliminated...there won't be any way of knowing any bit of truth pertaining to my situation. Consequently, a whole new form of government will take over. Yeah! And I won't live to see you some other time!". And then we cut to a scene of a covered up body being wheeled out, suggesting that this is Ruby and Ruby's last words are "You see I want to tell the truth. And then...I wanna leave this world....".
And last but by no means least, there is Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald. Oldman is great as Oswald, and potrays him as a complex and private man, who remained a mystery even after his death. Gary Oldman also facially resembles Oswald a fair bit, and does an excellent job at reproducing his unusual American accent, which had a tinge of Russian to it.
And Oldman has his own share of good scenes although alot of them are flashbacks and they do feature quotes of dialogue taken from Oswald's public arrest on TV as he says to the press that "I didn't shoot anyone, no sir. They have taken me in just because I defected to the Soviet union. I am just a patsy!". And later in Oswald's televised press conference at the police station he tells them "I really don't know...what this situation is about. Nobody has told me anything except that I am accused...of murdering a policeman. I know nothing more than that. I do request someone to come forward...to give me legal assistance".
Another good scene is in the flashback where Oswald is shown the cover of the "Life" magazine with Oswald holding the rifle, which is clearly a fake composite image as his head looks superimposed onto the body. So, Oswald looks angrily at the magazine cover and says "This is not me! I never saw this picture. It's my face but it's superimposed. The rest is not me. I have done alot of photographic work. That picture was made by someone else!". And one of the police asks Oswald of his alias, Alex Hydell "So, who the hell are you? Alex Hydell or Lee Harvey-Oswald?" and Oswald says "Well, you're the policeman you figure it out!".
And lastly there is the flashback scene where after Oswald supposedly murdered a policeman not long after the assassination, he makes his way into a cinema to evade the police. However soon after, the police arrive to arrest Oswald and they are lead into the cinema by a shoe store owner, who spotted Oswald. So, as the police approach Oswald, he says to himself "This is it!" and he suddenly leaps up and punches one of the officers and they pounce on him and cuff him and Oswald shouts "I'm not resisting arrest! I'm not resisting arrest!".
I never saw this picture. It's my face but it's superimposed. The rest is not me. I know photographic work. That picture was made by someone else! Read more: https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=jDIRECTOR AND MUSIC
So finally moving onto the direction paragraphs, Oliver Stone does a terrific job here and he keeps the viewer engrossed throughout as he presents the film's arguments in a very convincing fashion and he also makes great use of some frantic camera work as he combines a mixture of black and white footage and colour mixed in with the film itself.
Stone's screenplay is also a great achievement in itself as it is very intelligent and well researched for the most part although it does create some composite characters based on real life witnesses so there might be the odd bit of licence taken here and there. Despite all this though it doesn't detract from JFK being one of Stone's highlights from his acclaimed career.
As for the music, there is a terrific film score by John Williams (who also previously worked with Stone on his Vietnam drama, Born on the 4th of July) and the score is both suspenseful and atmopsheric throughout and features many excellent tracks, particularly the main theme. Williams himself then struggled to write a full score for the film as he initially composed six tracks and later added further musical cues. This was due to the fact that he was working on Steven Spielberg's film Hook (starring Robin Williams) at this time.
It also has to be said that Williams score has been mimicked in other film scores as well (such as in Tom Cruise's thriller, The Firm) and it remains as one of his more unique scores, which is well worth a listen even on its own.
FLAWS (Warning: this section may also contain spoilers!)
So does JFK have any flaws????? Well JFK does have the odd niggle or two .
And for starters I feel the film bombards you with too much information at times, so it definitely takes a few viewings to get the gist of all the details. This is especially the case as Stone tries to condense down the details of the trial and Garrison's investigations into three hours which makes taking it all in within that space of time even more difficult in one viewing.
And another thing I would say about the film that probably lets it down slightly is the melodrama of Garrison's home life, as he argues with his wife Elizabeth (Sissy Spacek) who is frustrated by the amount of time he devotes to the case. And in the film Spacek pretty much delivers samey lines such as "Before Kennedy nothing mattered more in this world to you than your children!" and "What about your kids, Jim?!!!" and "Jasper was looking for you, bawling his little eyes out!" etc. It is however key to the film as well I guess, as it is important to show how the events of the investigation impacted on Garrison's personal life, and later in reality, his first wife Elizabeth did divorce him. Stone later said that the fights between Garrison and his wife Elizabeth were based on rows that he had with his own wife at the time in their strained marriage.
Another slight problem with the film, and probably the case in general is there is not much evidence that cold links Shaw to knowing Oswald, as it ultimately is just the word of people who have witnessed seeing Shaw and Oswald together in the past with not much if any in the way of photographic evidence or otherwise. And this seems to largely boil down to the fact the witnesses involved were either murdered or simply discredited or bribed.
However it was later revealed in 1978, four years after Shaw's death, by the CIA director of the time, Richard Helms, that Shaw did actually work for the CIA as a contractor (this was added in as an insert at the end of the film) which Helms testified to under oath. And based on the Richard Helms testimony, it proved that Shaw was guilty of perjury. But people of power and persuasion like Shaw, can as it seems get away with murder (or assassination in this case).
The film also seems to do its damndest to imply the current government's complicity at the time of the trial as well by showing an irate judge who keeps overruling and telling off Garrison at every turn. It pretty much stops short of saying to the audience "Yeah the government is in on it!" as to back up how Garrison (SPOILER SORRY!!!!) went on to lose the trial in the film (and also in reality) in the face of a seemingly corrupt government hellbent on covering its tracks.
Perhaps also at times due to the film's long running time certain scenes can slow the pace down a bit as there is so much information to sift through. Also given the amount of leads Garrison had to follow up, the film also throws up a number of leads that really lead to nowhere (especially the showgirl one whom Garrison and Lou meet with) until of course Garrison meets up with the mysterious "X" who tells him key information regarding the background of the events that lay behind the assassination.
I also felt that Oliver Stone's script while largely excellent and well written, still does have some cheesy bits of dialogue. As an example there is of course the line where the news reporter, Walter Kronkite, officially annoucnes that President Kennedy has died and at this point, Garrison is in a bar watching it on the TV. So, after the announcement, Garrison is astonished and he says to himself "God, I'm ashamed to be an American today!". Hmmm!
And last of all another problem with the film comes in the scene when Garrison and Lou go to the book depository where Oswald allegedly shot from. And in the scene (which features in the director's cut) Garrison refers to Clay Shaw in an incriminatory way but in the next scene one of Garrison's team, Bill, reveals that Clay Shaw's alias is Clay Bertrand and in that scene Garrison reacts with surprise as if he didn't know that Clay Shaw had any alleged involvement in the conspiracy but in the depository scene he does! So this remains one of the film's rare pieces of poor continuity but when you watch those two scenes it really does stick out.
Anyway that's it for the flaws.
SUM UP
So that is it for my third revisitation of JFK, which remains personally one of my favourite films and one of the best films of the 1990s. The film is lengthy of course and it would be impossible to take in all the info it throws at you in one go but its a film that warrants repeated viewing. It also has fine central performance from Kevin Costner, and a top cast backing him up as well as a great screenplay and music score by John Williams. And it remains one of the most compelling and engrossing dramas in modern cinema, which is a must see.
OK, so that's it for now and I will return with another post sometime soon.
Till then its bye for now!
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