‘JFK’ Review in Washingtonian

Washingtonian magazine, which killed a favorable review of Oliver Stone’s “JFK” last month only to see its movie critic resign in protest, will publish a favorable review of the film submitted by a new critic for its March editions, editor Jack A. Limpert said Thursday.

“I would agree with critics that an editor has no right to substitute his judgment (for theirs),” Limpert said. “I guess what I was reacting to was that Stone was selling this as journalism and as history when I thought it was bad journalism and bad history.”

Limpert drew fire from film critics nationwide when he killed a capsule review of “JFK” submitted by Pat Dowell, who had written: “If you didn’t already doubt the Warren Commission report, you will after seeing Oliver Stone’s brilliantly crafted indictment of history as an official story.” She gave it 3 1/2 stars.

Her replacement, Jayne Blanchard, writes: “Oliver Stone’s controversial rabble-rousing examination of the Kennedy assassination polarizes audiences--you either love it or hate it. But beyond Stone’s manipulative style and heavy politics, there is excellent acting, led by Kevin Costner, a riveting detective story, and a reminder that democracy is a participatory sport.” She also gave it 3 1/2 stars.

“(Limpert) still doesn’t like the film,” Blanchard said, “and he doesn’t think it is a fair and accurate depiction of Washington, but my review doesn’t take sides, it judges the movie as a movie and is not the last word on assassination lore. He seems more comfortable with that.”