This movie, a docudrama, had promise, but the problem with it is that the director, Oliver Stone, was overly self-indulgent with his conspiracy theories involving the assassination of President Kennedy. While some of his theories are interesting and may very well have merit, especially as the Warren Commission Report was undeniably flawed, some of it is way out there, especially in terms of alleging that the Vice-President, Lyndon Baines Johnson, may have had a hand in it. So, in this way he loses some of his audience.

Still, this film, based upon New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison's own investigation into the Kennedy assassination and his subsequent prosecution of someone he believed to have been involved as a member of the CIA, has some merit. It is unfortunate that Oliver Stone just did not know when to stop and cut his losses. Consequently, the movie, at just over three hours in length, is simply too long, and the kitchen sink approach, in terms of conspiracy theories, works against it.

Despite the film's merits, in particularly the editing of archival footage into the mix, which is outstanding and gives  the film an authenticity of time and place,  this film is riddled by some of the worst southern accents around. In particular, Joe Pesci's is simply atrocious. It is downright laughable, along with the fright wig he wears. Why he was cast in his role is beyond me, as his performance and accent are dreadful. Moreover, Kevin Costner in the lead role, has a southern accent that comes and goes. So, this all has the effect of being a distraction.

While parts of the film are excellent, and the closing argument at the end given by Kevin Costner as Jim Garrison is affecting, the film is hoisted by the petard the director's self-indulgence. While the viewer may get a modicum of enjoyment from this film, one may also, as I did, just wish for the film to hurry up and end.
This movie, a docudrama, had promise, but the problem with it is that the director, Oliver Stone, was overly self-indulgent with his conspiracy theories involving the assassination of President Kennedy. While some of his theories are interesting and may very well have merit, especially as the Warren Commission Report was undeniably flawed, some of it is way out there, especially in terms of alleging that the Vice-President, Lyndon Baines Johnson, may have had a hand in it. So, in this way he loses some of his audience. Still, this film, based upon New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison's own investigation into the Kennedy assassination and his subsequent prosecution of someone he believed to have been involved as a member of the CIA, has some merit. It is unfortunate that Oliver Stone just did not know when to stop and cut his losses. Consequently, the movie, at just over three hours in length, is simply too long, and the kitchen sink approach, in terms of conspiracy theories, works against it. Despite the film's merits, in particularly the editing of archival footage into the mix, which is outstanding and gives  the film an authenticity of time and place,  this film is riddled by some of the worst southern accents around. In particular, Joe Pesci's is simply atrocious. It is downright laughable, along with the fright wig he wears. Why he was cast in his role is beyond me, as his performance and accent are dreadful. Moreover, Kevin Costner in the lead role, has a southern accent that comes and goes. So, this all has the effect of being a distraction. While parts of the film are excellent, and the closing argument at the end given by Kevin Costner as Jim Garrison is affecting, the film is hoisted by the petard the director's self-indulgence. While the viewer may get a modicum of enjoyment from this film, one may also, as I did, just wish for the film to hurry up and end.