Kevin Costner took on the role of real-life attorney Jim Garrison in Oliver Stone’s JFK. Like other movies from Stone, this film also raised several questions about the political landscape of the country at the time, making it a controversial project. Costner’s Western roles, be it Dances with Wolves, Yellowstone, or Horizon, weren’t nearly as sharp or controversial as JFK.
However, the film received critical praise for Costner’s performance, direction, editing, and cinematography. The film even won the Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing. Costner initially turned down the project but was convinced by his agent who was a big fan of Stone.
Kevin Costner’s Sharpest Role Came In Oliver Stone’s JFK
Oliver Stone‘s JFK was bound to rub some people the wrong way after it explored an alternate myth to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The film examines New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison who didn’t believe in Warren Commission’s findings on Kennedy’s assassination.
Kevin Costner played Garrison in the film. During the 25th anniversary of the film in 2016, Costner shared that an ensemble cast was brought in for the film who were happy to accept a role in Stone’s film. It was a challenging experience for Costner and the cast as Stone swiftly moved through the intense filming.
Costner revealed that he had to be sharp all the time as they had filming all day long every day. Stone completed the film with one or two months of prep and another three months of shooting. Costner shared with Variety:
Everybody that came was ready to work, because Oliver is really on point. It was a lot — a lot for me, and it was going to be a lot for them. There was no waiting. We needed to go and we had to be sharp all the way through. Every day was going to be a workload. There was nothing casual about that movie.
Stone spent the next six months defending the film in the press. Stone shared with Variety that the media was “nasty” and recalled moments when he didn’t even get to refer to his research during interviews. The film opened slow at the box office, but the story picked up momentum, earning a total of $205 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo).
Kevin Costner’s JFK Is Still A Controversial Movie But With An Impact
Jim Garrison believed that there was a conspiracy theory to overthrow Kennedy and that Lee Harvey Oswald was just a scapegoat in the big picture. Oliver Stone and Zachary Sklar adapted the screenplay from the books On the Trail of the Assassins by Garrison and Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy by Jim Marrs.
The film quickly became controversial in the political circles as it embraced a conspiracy theory. Stone was accused of spreading misinformation, even strengthening the rumors that Kennedy was killed in a coup d’état to bring Lyndon B. Johnson to power. Stone shared that he didn’t realize he would hit a nerve with his film.
Costner also defended the movie, sharing that it prompted people to question those in power. He shared that the film’s success was not only determined by the box office numbers but also by its impact on people. Costner shared with Variety:
[JFK] has a chance for generations to visit it when they come of an age where that interests them, and the questions posed are really important. There was a shift in the country. We used to think — my parents thought, certainly — that people in power told you the truth, and it’s really not always the case. We’ve seen that for the last 60 years.
The film was partially credited for the JFK Act which reversed the decision to seal official records of the assassination from the public until 2029. Most of the documents were made public in 2017.
JFK is now available for rent on AppleTV+.
