JFK (1991)
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A New Orleans district attorney uncovers a web of conspiracy surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
The story
Following the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison leads an investigation into potential local links. While the federal government initially rebukes his efforts, Garrison becomes convinced that the official narrative is flawed. In 1966, he reopens the case, uncovering evidence that suggests Lee Harvey Oswald may have been a pawn in a larger conspiracy involving the CIA and other powerful entities. As Garrison and his team navigate a maze of secrets and suspicious deaths, they attempt to uncover the truth behind the tragedy that shook the nation.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film begins with President Eisenhower's 1961 warning about the military-industrial complex, followed by the assassination of JFK in 1963. Jim Garrison initially investigates New Orleans links but is rebuked by the government. In 1966, he reopens the case after finding inaccuracies in the Warren Report, such as the single-bullet theory. He discovers that Oswald and David Ferrie were involved with the CIA in Operation Mongoose. Garrison's team identifies a 'grassy knoll' shooter and concludes there were multiple shooters. He meets a mysterious figure, 'X', who suggests a coup d'état involving the CIA, Mafia, and others to protect interests in the Vietnam War. Amidst personal strain and media criticism, Garrison indicts Clay Shaw. The film culminates in a 1969 trial where Garrison presents a complex conspiracy theory to the jury. Although the jury acquits Shaw in under an hour, Garrison finds personal peace and vindication for his determination.
- First release year
- 1991
- Runtime (minutes)
- 188
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Oliver Stone
- Writers
- Oliver Stone · screenplay; Zachary Sklar · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Kevin Costner · Jim Garrison; Kevin Bacon · Willie O'Keefe; Tommy Lee Jones · Clay Shaw / Clay Bertrand; Laurie Metcalf · Susie Cox; Gary Oldman · Lee Harvey Oswald; Michael Rooker · Bill Broussard; Jay O. Sanders · Lou Ivon; Sissy Spacek · Liz Garrison
- Genres
- political thriller; historical; mystery
- Themes
- conspiracy; government mistrust; historical revisionism
- Tone and mood
- tense; suspenseful; gritty
- Setting
- New Orleans, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. during the 1960s.
- Premise and plot tags
- political thriller; historical drama; conspiracy theory
- Reception
- The film received critical praise for its performances, direction, and technical elements despite significant controversy regarding its portrayal of conspiracy theories. It was a box-office success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1991.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 85% · scale: percentage · review count: 73; Metacritic · score: 72 · scale: 100 · review count: 29
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Best Director – Motion Picture · won; Academy Award · Best Cinematography · won; Academy Award · Best Film Editing · won
- Production trivia
- The film was the first of three films Oliver Stone made about American presidents.; The film's controversy led to the passage of the JFK Act in 1992.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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