3 - "JFK" (1991)

     In the summer of 1990, I went on a summer vacation with my family to Washington, D.C. It was a great trip. I got to see the White House, the Capitol, all the monuments and museums you could possibly want to. But something unexpected happened on this trip and would lead to one of those weird coincidences in life. We were walking along the National Mall when we saw a tent set up with a bunch of people under it and it was in a roped off area. There were a few people standing around outside of the ropes. We were curious so we headed over just to see what was going on. That ended up being a good decision. A security guy with a shirt that said JFK told us that they were filming a movie here and the people under the tent were the cast and crew taking a lunch break. We asked if anyone famous was there and the guy said Kevin Costner was. He pointed him out to us and sure enough he was sitting there eating lunch. What happened next was even more surprising. Costner finished up his meal and came out and met the few of us who had gathered around there. He didn't stay long, but I will always remember that moment. He didn't need to come out at all, but the fact that he did will always earn him some kudos in my book.
      Because of that moment, we ended up going to see the movie when it came out the following year and in one of those things you just can't explain, it ended up being one of the best movies I have ever seen. And 20 years later, that it has remained. The movie is based on the true story of New Orleans District Attorney, Jim Garrison (Costner), who is only person to bring someone to trial for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. While the history books have taught us that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in murdering Kennedy, there are many people out there who think that just isn't plausible. Garrison was one of those people and believed that the assassination was the result of a conspiracy plotted by the government and various extreme groups. Garrison's team calls many "facts" of the murder into question and there investigation falls primarily on one man, Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones), a New Orleans socialite with government connections. JFK is directed by Oliver Stone, who does a brilliant job putting together a 3-hour movie that never once feels stale or bogged down. That is accomplished in the editing room where JFK won one of its two Oscars, the other being Cinematography. It was nominated for 6 other Oscars, including Best Picture. The movie does not hide its motives. Stone is a stout believer that there was a conspiracy in the murder and this film definitely tries to convince you. Whether you believe it or not, or just don't care either way, it's really not important to enjoying this film. The script and acting are top notch and will appeal to people, no matter what your beliefs on the event are. The cast is one of the strongest ever assembled and features supporting roles by Joe Pesci, John Candy, Sissy Spacek, Donald Sutherland, and Gary Oldman, among many others. I know this movie may not be for everyone (the profanity is abundant!), but for those who give it a shot, I think you may be surprised by what you find. A brilliant, thought-provoking look at one of the darkest moments in American history.