I'm all for telling this story as often as possible because it probably provides the most important education and insight in the history of our country (until the last five years, of course). However, there's nothing new here and nothing that wasn't already told in Oliver Stones compelling, brilliant, essential and perspective altering 1992 drama, JFK.
Oswald didn't fire a single shot. I knew that going in. It was a conspiracy that reached from the highest levels of government to the lowest level mob hitman. I knew that, too. It was all rather clearly told through characters and action in Oliver's first JFK film. This one tells the same story only with far less compelling drama and far more tedious talking.
Its worth a look if you don't know the story or if you need reiteration but its not going to compel anyone who hasn't already seen the first film to go back and watch another Oliver Stone telling of the same story. If the idea was to get the message out to a new generation, re-editing and/or re-releasing the 1992 JFK might have been far more effective. Adding some of the footage here and re-releasing the first film as a three night mini-series might have worked, too. This way, Oliver's not interesting or compelling enough to be convincing or to motivate anyone to ask for more.
Diligent, if self defeating effort that essentially preaches to those who already knew and whose opinions he's already swayed. The unseasoned and those who didn't know the story going in aren't going to walk away with much.
Alright, 24 hours later, I'll amend my original review. I'd fallen asleep on the film and I went back to finish it, the next night. Yes, I did learn one or two things that I didn't know before. Allan Dulles, the head of the CIA who supposedly orchestrated the assassination, was strategically placed on the Warren Commission, supposedly to make sure the investigators didn't go in directions the conspirators didn't want them to go. I knew that Gerald Ford was on the commission but I'm guessing most people didn't. Yes, there's some new, insightful information here but I stand by my contention that the original film could have been re-edited to include it. Again, especially in today's political climate where everything is a controversy, this one is only going to reach those who are already there. The original made everyone gasp.
Oswald didn't fire a single shot. I knew that going in. It was a conspiracy that reached from the highest levels of government to the lowest level mob hitman. I knew that, too. It was all rather clearly told through characters and action in Oliver's first JFK film. This one tells the same story only with far less compelling drama and far more tedious talking.
Its worth a look if you don't know the story or if you need reiteration but its not going to compel anyone who hasn't already seen the first film to go back and watch another Oliver Stone telling of the same story. If the idea was to get the message out to a new generation, re-editing and/or re-releasing the 1992 JFK might have been far more effective. Adding some of the footage here and re-releasing the first film as a three night mini-series might have worked, too. This way, Oliver's not interesting or compelling enough to be convincing or to motivate anyone to ask for more.
Diligent, if self defeating effort that essentially preaches to those who already knew and whose opinions he's already swayed. The unseasoned and those who didn't know the story going in aren't going to walk away with much.
Alright, 24 hours later, I'll amend my original review. I'd fallen asleep on the film and I went back to finish it, the next night. Yes, I did learn one or two things that I didn't know before. Allan Dulles, the head of the CIA who supposedly orchestrated the assassination, was strategically placed on the Warren Commission, supposedly to make sure the investigators didn't go in directions the conspirators didn't want them to go. I knew that Gerald Ford was on the commission but I'm guessing most people didn't. Yes, there's some new, insightful information here but I stand by my contention that the original film could have been re-edited to include it. Again, especially in today's political climate where everything is a controversy, this one is only going to reach those who are already there. The original made everyone gasp.