The Conspirator

Starring: James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood, Tom Wilkinson, Justin Long, Danny Huston, James Badge Dale, Colm Meaney, Alexis Bledel, Stephen Root
Directed by: Robert Redford
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Crime
2011

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: After the assassination of President Lincoln, Mary Surratt (Robin Wright) is the only female on trial for his murder. She is defended by a young, skeptical lawyer (James McAvoy) in a trial whose outcome has already been predetermined.

Review:

Tim: The Conspirator is a good movie directed by Robert Redford, made better by the strong performances of the cast. I enjoyed the story of the trial in the wake of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. It was a fragile, precarious time in our nation's history- when the future success of the Union existed on a knife edge. The movie does a fantastic job of creating that world and making it feel familiar. This movie would not have been as good had the time period felt like a faraway, removed location. The movie puts us into the 1860s and makes it feel like a comfortable, realistic setting.

That is one of my favorite aspects of this film, and why I was able to overlook some of its flaws. This is the debut film of the American Film Company, whose mission is to create realistic movies about American history. I love that vision and I support it wholeheartedly. We need movies that teach us about American history, but at the same time are entertaining, solidly made features. This combination is a fantastic way to bring both enjoyment and knowledge to audiences.

The cast really makes this movie. It brings the characters and the situations to life and makes us care about the events of the film. James McAvoy is such a fantastic young actor. He plays roles like these so well, making historical characters relatable and likable. He was excellent here.

The supporting cast is very good, too. I didn't love Robin Wright, but she does give a good performance. She makes Mary Surratt a complex, fascinating character. I was surprised to see Kevin Kline here, but I really enjoyed him as Edwin Stanton. This is not a typical Kline role, but he was very good. Evan Rachel Wood was good as Anna Surratt. I loved Tom Wilkinson, but I wish he had more screen time. Justin Long felt a bit out of place, but was otherwise fine. Danny Huston is always a welcome presence. The cast featured very good actors in dramatic roles- there's not much more you could ask for here.

The film does unfold like you would expect a courtroom drama to. It was a bit predictable until the end. I was a little disappointed that the actual courtroom scenes felt far too similar to other movies, even though the time period was different. This is the type of movie that is easy to pull off- it's a historically accurate movie about a dramatic, emotional period featuring a story we all know (although not necessarily the details) with good characters and high stakes. It wasn't exactly a huge challenge to pull off. I felt like Redford directed a good movie, but it didn't really get close to greatness. The performances of the cast really help out. I wish Redford could have created a greater sense of emotional impact.

Still, The Conspirator is a very solidly made, entertaining movie. It tells a powerful story about one of the most fascinating, critical periods of American history. I enjoyed the story and the characters, and I would consider this a very good movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Gettysburg, Atonement, The Last King of Scotland, Gods & Generals