Play Meter

- THE LAST WORD The truth is told 0 ur country 's greatest patriot, filmmaker Oliver Stone, is at it again. The man responsible for such anti-American propaganda as "Salvador," "Platoon," "Wall Street," and "Born on the Fourth of July" now has the nation arguing over his latest movie, "JFK," a three-hour mess that serves to exorcise Stone's conspiracy theory demons and Big Brother paranoia. For those who haven't kept up with it, "JFK" postulates that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. If that was all the movie was about , there would be little furor ; many Americans doubt the lone gunman theory. But Stone doesn 't stop there. His film weaves the mother of all conspiracy theories, a grand, sinister cabal more outrageous than the one explored by then-New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison. It took a jury less than one hour to find New Orleans businessman Clay Shaw innocent of plotting to murder Kennedy , so weak was Garrison 's case. Ah, but Hunter Stone believes Hound Dog Jim was on the right scent and moved in to finish the kill. By the end of "JFK," the truth is revealed: the assassination plotters included the FBI , CIA, Lyndon Johnson , the "Military-Industrial Complex, " the Dallas Police Department , New Orleans homosexuals, right-wing Cubans , and a po-boy maker at Mother's Restaurant. Some country we live in, eh? Anyway, we have it on good authority that Stone is hard at work on his next movie, "The Quarter Caper." In this film, being shot on location in New York, the video game-loving Stone gets to the bottom of25-cent pricing in America. One of Play Meter's East Coast stringers recently caught up with Stone and filed this report: Pla y Meter: Mr. Stone, we understand that you're quite the video game enthusiast. Has this been a passion of yours for very long? Stone: I really got hooked after we wrapped "Wall Street." It's gotten to the point where I can't go a few days without satisfying my fix for Hard Drivin ' or Street Fighter II. In fact, I've been kicking around some game ideas in my head. I'm Just a Bush Compared to Your Oak Tree, for instance , is about a jealous George Bush joining forces with CIA agents, Jimmy Carter, Kremlin guards , a Ninja , and the ghost of Bill Casey to kill Ronald Reagan. How's that for a plot? P la y Meter: Keep the Ninja; it won't sell otherwise. But let's talk about "The Quarter Caper." You say there's a worldwide conspiracy afoot to keep our price per play at 25 cents, or 50 cents at best. What's the basis for your contention? Stone: OK, try to follow me on this . If American operators ever succeed in getting $1 per play for their games, like European operators do , that will reduce the amount of disposable income in the pockets of game-playing American teenagers. That means the kids will have less money to spend on cassettes, CDs, heavy metal T-shirts, nose rings , crack , movie tickets ... movie tickets! Wait a sec- Play Meter: Ollie, you lost me, baby. Stone: Don't you see? The guys who provide all that stuff would be threatened, so they're doing all they can to block congressional passage of a dollar coin, the last great hope for American operators. Play Meter: Exactly who is involved in this scheme? Stone: I don 't want to give away everything before the movie is released, but for starters, there 's the U.S. Mint , silver miners in Mexico , presidents of international record companies, Colombian drug lords , the Mafia, four Hollywood movie studios, Saudi oil sheiks, and George Bush. Play Meter: George Bush? What's he got to do with it? Stone: If you thought the October Surprise was something, wait until you see my movie. I've got a scene with Mr. Points of Light and a Swiss banker that'll have 'em gasping in their seats. Play Meter: When can we expect " The Quarter Caper" to hit the theatres? Stone: In mid-April, though I may have a sneak preview for your industry at that show of yours in San Antonio. Play Meter: You mean ACME? Stone: Yeah, that's it. Hope to see you there . Play Meter: Likewis e, Ollie , likewise. D Christopher Caire News Editor PLAY METER 137 FEBRUARY 1992