It’s striking to revisit this movie now, nearly sixty years later, considering how much turmoil still surrounds the US Presidency. The story follows Louisiana District Attorney Jim Garrison (played by Kevin Costner) and his intense determination to demonstrate that President John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas back in 1963 was a planned action by groups operating outside of official channels – involving government, military, and industry – intended to stop him from pulling out of Vietnam and keep substantial sums of money flowing into the hands of those who benefited from it. Oliver Stone gathered a talented group of actors to depict Garrison’s evolving theory—all while facing personal and professional dangers—and the unfolding events are both captivating and engaging. My main issue is that the foundation upon which much of this drama rests – the portrayal of Garrison himself – isn't very good. Costner simply doesn’t manage to convey what’s needed. He comes across as underwhelming; his passionate pursuit of truth and justice is well-supported by the strong performances from others, but his presence on screen lacks the energy and drive required to maintain the intensity of this investigation. Praise should be given to Donald Sutherland, who delivers a wonderfully mysterious performance as Garrison's confidential informant "X," and to Tommy Lee Jones, playing the decidedly shady “Shaw.” Kevin Bacon also does well as "Willie," appropriately named and essentially a glorified errand boy. Perhaps the presence of actors like Matthau, Lemmon, and Sissy Spacek (Garrison’s wife) only highlights how much the lead performance falls short? This shortcoming is ultimately shown by the lost chance to present his powerful closing arguments in open court, which ends up feeling more like a basic chemistry lesson with little emotion or impact. The film's length can be excessive, sometimes feeling unnecessarily drawn out. Maybe if the director hadn’t sought mainstream appeal for this otherwise compelling docu-drama, it could have been a truly great movie. As it stands, it is good but falls short of its potential. In 1992, Congress requested an assessment of the documents supporting or challenging these claims—and the lack of any further developments since then will likely keep this film relevant, despite its flaws, for years to come.

Source on TMDB