4 minutes in, Donald Sutherland steals the show from Kevin Costner in an extraordinary JFK scene.

Donald Sutherland was a tremendous actor, a complete one who could play anything, in every register. Although he scandalously never received an Oscar, this did not prevent him from creating an impressive filmography. Sure, then, The Bastards 12, Gold for the Brave, Don’t Look Back, Invasion of the Invaders, an offbeat thriller with Clooty Jane Fonda, The Hunger Games, 1900 Bernardo Bertolucci, Fellini’s Casanova, a very poignant family drama that people like. Others by Robert Redford…

He steals the show from Kevin Costner for one scene

It is not easy to impose yourself on the stage. Especially if we really only have one in the movie. Here we fully appreciate the talent of the unforgettable Donald Sutherland, who can steal the spotlight for a single scene from Kevin Costner in Oliver Stone’s JFK.

He plays Mr. X, an informant who provides important tips to prosecutor Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner). The two eventually meet in the alleys of the park, of course with the utmost discretion.

Here’s the scene again…

In one 4-minute sequence, it reveals the workings of an unstoppable conspiracy against JFK and the links to government agencies involved. A character inspired by a real informant named L. Fletcher Prout, who was the Chief of Special Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff under John F. Kennedy, Sutherland, presents here an ultra-concise presentation of the chilling facts, highlighted brilliantly. A musical accompaniment by John Williams that makes you shiver.

The actor says that he spent three months preparing for this scene, where he delivers a very long monologue. When he shot it, it only took an afternoon to put it in a jar. Excited.