JFK

It's pretty clear that what we have here is an overblown and factually shaky version of the events surrounding the assassination of John F Kennedy. It's also more than obvious that director Oliver Stone takes his self-appointed position as the chronicler of recent US history far too seriously to be objective or concise. Yet, before you dismiss this review as just another conspiracy against Stone and his star Kevin Costner, let's remember that the cover-up theory has lost none of its fascination more than 50 years after the event. Whether you believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone on 22 November 1963 or whether you adhere to the accomplice theory, this is a compelling and persuasively staged conspiracy thriller. Stone himself doesn't go along with all of New Orleans DA Jim Garrison's conclusions, massaging the facts here and there in the interests of drama and his own suspicions. But what's so remarkable about the film is how deftly Stone conveys such a wealth of information and how he manages to ensure that every character makes an impact, no matter how short their screen time. The Oscar-winning photography and editing are superb, and the ensemble is a triumph of casting. It's a clear case of unmissable cinema.