JFK is a story about corruption and conspiracy—about the unsettling possibility that the truth has been buried under layers of lies. Through the eyes of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, played by Kevin Costner, we see the sheer weight of institutional resistance faced when one man dares to question the official narrative. The film becomes less about proving a single theory and more about exposing a system that thrives on obfuscation, intimidation, and fear. It challenges viewers to consider: what happens when those in power decide that truth is too dangerous to be known?
But beyond the political intrigue and courtroom drama lies a deeper, more personal theme—the profound sorrow and loss that rippled through the American psyche after JFK’s assassination. Stone’s film taps into a collective wound, a sense that something bright and promising was extinguished on that day in Dallas. The president’s death is portrayed not just as the loss of a leader, but as the death of an ideal—the dream of a more just, hopeful America.
References used in the creation of this episode, as always all opinions are my own.
Giglio, James n. “Oliver Stone’s JFK in Historical Perspective.” AHA, March 18, 2025. https://www.historians.org/perspectives-article/oliver-stones-jfk-in-historical-perspective/.
JFK. United States, United States: Warner Bros., Warner Home Video, 1991.
“JFK.” Rotten Tomatoes, December 20, 1991. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1037756-jfk.
ReelBlend Podcast. “Oliver Stone Talks ‘JFK’ 30th Anniversary.” YouTube, December 29, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd8edLxhDeE.
Stone, Oliver, and Zachary Skylar. “The Internet Movie Script Database (Imsdb).” The Internet Movie Script Database. Accessed April 26, 2025. https://imsdb.com/scripts/JFK.html.
