The Conspirator (Roadside Attractions)
Todays History Lesson Is
Robert Redford turned to the pages of history and has come up with a fascinating movie titled The Conspirator. This film tells the story of Mary Surratt, a woman accused of conspiring to murder President Abraham Lincoln and members of his cabinet. She was the first woman ever tried by a military tribunal in the United States and her story is a remarkable one.
Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy) was a hero in the War Between the States. He served his country bravely and with allegiance. When the war was over he returned to his home and friends in the Washington, DC area. He was there when President Lincoln was assassinated and other members of his cabinet threatened.
John Wilkes Booth was tracked down and killed while others were rounded up for conspiring to cause harm. Among these were Mary Surratt (Robin Wright) the owner/operator of a boarding house where the men had planned the crime.
Senator Reverdy Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signed on to handle her case and he asked Frederick to assist. Frederick was most reluctant to help with the case but eventually agreed. When Johnson stepped back from the case he became lead counsel.
Everything was set up against Mary from the military tribunal headed by General Hunter (Colm Meaney) to the free reign given to prosecutor Joseph Holt (Danny Huston). Frederick fights valiantly for his client but he knows he is playing a losing game.
The performances, especially those of Wright, Wilkinson, McAvoy and Huston, are excellent. Also good is Evan Rachel Wood as Marys daughter. Not as enjoyable are those of Alexis Bledel as Fredericks girlfriend, Justin Long as a friend of Fredericks, and Jonathan Groff as a man who stayed at the boarding house. Long just looks totally out of place in the movie and Groff spends his whole performance smiling about something of which the audience is unaware.
The movie is covered in a muted sepia tone which adds to the historical flavor. The sets do not look authentic and detract. Redford does manage to keep the story true to history and this makes more of an impact that any other element.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
As a history lesson, The Conspirator is impressive. As entertainment it is less so. Still the spotlight being shined on some little known lessons of the past does make for an informative as well as entertaining evening. Robert Redford acts as our guide through the strange events that surrounded Lincolns death. He also points out the similarities between the fight over military tribunals then and the relationship to that argument now.
I scored The Conspirator a planned 7 out of 10.
