The Conspirator (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
In the wake of 9/11/01, our country panicked, grieved & desired swift retribution on our enemies. We loathed our enemies; still do. We thought about the violations of our freedom & security. I'm sure many of us required that the 'bad guys' get their "justice" served. And according to director Robert Redford's 'The Conspirator', this already happened 136 yrs. prior with Abraham Lincoln's assassination. The film begins JUST as The Civil War ended. In a fantastic dramatization, we are shown events leading up to Lincoln being shot dead, as well as the VP & Secretary of State being severely injured (in similar assassination attempts). And in no time, 8 people are brought in as anti-Union suspects. As far as most were concerned, they were guilty, they needed to be hanged & America needed closure. The 'conspirator' in this film is one of those suspects, 42 yr. old Mary Surratt (Robin Wright).
Mary owned the boarding house where her son, John (Johnny Simmons) & others - including local actor, John Wilkes Booth - planned the attacks. Mary denies knowledge of the conspiracy, but as a Confederate sympathizer (her Southerners just lost the war) ... she holds much contempt for the government. The only person who agrees to defend Mary is reluctant soldier-turned attorney, Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy). Frederick believes in due process & is horrified by the military tribunal's hindrance on Mary's rights (on direct orders from Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton - played by a loathsome Kevin Kline - and the White House, itself). And so, with seemingly everyone against her, Frederick must put aside his own prejudices in an attempt to win his case against a ruthless prosecutor (Danny Huston), and a government that places national security above Mary's constitutional freedoms.
I enjoyed the depiction of Frederick Aiken (acted by the always interesting McAvoy) because he is a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't type of character. If he WINS the case, then the Southern woman responsible for killing the beloved Northern President is set free and a nation turns against him. If he LOSES, then he loses all credibility as an up & coming lawyer. Either way, he's vilified for taking on her case; even when he thinks she may very well be guilty. But again, his conscience dictates that he should defend Mary Surratt because it's the constitutional thing to do. That's a fascinating character, right there. And while Mary Surratt is portrayed as innocent, the film is more concerned with showing the manner in which she was convicted, tried, & neglected due process to become the 1st woman executed in the U.S.. Was she guilty? Perhaps. But Redford (+ research team) feel she was innocent, & the film follows suit.
I really liked learning about this little known slice of history. The courtroom drama component is well-handled. The locales, sets & costumes are meticulously executed. I felt like I was watching a documentary (they're that good!). And though the movie glides along at a relaxed, near too-serious pace ... I was always absorbed in the proceedings. Redford keeps the story relevant by paralleling this story with today's tribulations (2 national tragedies, 2 angry responses - propelled by vengeance). The Lincoln's war-weary administration denied Surratt her right to a fair trial so that America could calm the hell down. When America feels threatened, we sometimes react hastily. That's the message of Redford's work, here.
The performances are stellar. I've mentioned McAvoy; a very intuitive actor who knows when to ramp it up & tone it down. I also have to single out Robin Wright as the clad in black, steely, inwardly grieving Mary. All her scenes - whether in the courtroom, in talks with McAvoy, or in telling flashbacks - are impressive. Evan Rachel Wood is appealing as Mary's lonely daughter. I wish this talented young actress had more parts. Tom Wilkinson is fantastic, as usual, as Frederick's bold legal mentor. But every other character in this film gets the shaft (roles played by Justin Long, Alexis Bledel, Toby Kebbell, the list goes on & on). Even Kevin Kline is relegated to 'angry senator' who just wants people hanged out of political expediency. Most of the supporting cast is simply underutilized.
'The Conspirator' is not an amazing motion picture. It lacks some ... I don't know ... verve? Punch? In fact, it almost comes across as a great-looking 2 hour made-for-TV movie. But to all of that I say, who cares? Stick me in a huge dark room with 40 or so people and a big screen, and I'll feel the same about it as if I were curled up on my couch at home. It's one of those "absolutely fine" movies -- meat & potatoes Friday night cinema. I even think it'll go over well in schools to be shown as a history lesson. Above all, it's The Conspirator's relevant story about America's tragedies, its immediate aftermath & its ensuing justice that reeled me in. The beautiful craftsmanship helped. And I'm always down for a smart, old-fashioned historical biopic.
Mary owned the boarding house where her son, John (Johnny Simmons) & others - including local actor, John Wilkes Booth - planned the attacks. Mary denies knowledge of the conspiracy, but as a Confederate sympathizer (her Southerners just lost the war) ... she holds much contempt for the government. The only person who agrees to defend Mary is reluctant soldier-turned attorney, Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy). Frederick believes in due process & is horrified by the military tribunal's hindrance on Mary's rights (on direct orders from Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton - played by a loathsome Kevin Kline - and the White House, itself). And so, with seemingly everyone against her, Frederick must put aside his own prejudices in an attempt to win his case against a ruthless prosecutor (Danny Huston), and a government that places national security above Mary's constitutional freedoms.
I enjoyed the depiction of Frederick Aiken (acted by the always interesting McAvoy) because he is a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't type of character. If he WINS the case, then the Southern woman responsible for killing the beloved Northern President is set free and a nation turns against him. If he LOSES, then he loses all credibility as an up & coming lawyer. Either way, he's vilified for taking on her case; even when he thinks she may very well be guilty. But again, his conscience dictates that he should defend Mary Surratt because it's the constitutional thing to do. That's a fascinating character, right there. And while Mary Surratt is portrayed as innocent, the film is more concerned with showing the manner in which she was convicted, tried, & neglected due process to become the 1st woman executed in the U.S.. Was she guilty? Perhaps. But Redford (+ research team) feel she was innocent, & the film follows suit.
I really liked learning about this little known slice of history. The courtroom drama component is well-handled. The locales, sets & costumes are meticulously executed. I felt like I was watching a documentary (they're that good!). And though the movie glides along at a relaxed, near too-serious pace ... I was always absorbed in the proceedings. Redford keeps the story relevant by paralleling this story with today's tribulations (2 national tragedies, 2 angry responses - propelled by vengeance). The Lincoln's war-weary administration denied Surratt her right to a fair trial so that America could calm the hell down. When America feels threatened, we sometimes react hastily. That's the message of Redford's work, here.
The performances are stellar. I've mentioned McAvoy; a very intuitive actor who knows when to ramp it up & tone it down. I also have to single out Robin Wright as the clad in black, steely, inwardly grieving Mary. All her scenes - whether in the courtroom, in talks with McAvoy, or in telling flashbacks - are impressive. Evan Rachel Wood is appealing as Mary's lonely daughter. I wish this talented young actress had more parts. Tom Wilkinson is fantastic, as usual, as Frederick's bold legal mentor. But every other character in this film gets the shaft (roles played by Justin Long, Alexis Bledel, Toby Kebbell, the list goes on & on). Even Kevin Kline is relegated to 'angry senator' who just wants people hanged out of political expediency. Most of the supporting cast is simply underutilized.
'The Conspirator' is not an amazing motion picture. It lacks some ... I don't know ... verve? Punch? In fact, it almost comes across as a great-looking 2 hour made-for-TV movie. But to all of that I say, who cares? Stick me in a huge dark room with 40 or so people and a big screen, and I'll feel the same about it as if I were curled up on my couch at home. It's one of those "absolutely fine" movies -- meat & potatoes Friday night cinema. I even think it'll go over well in schools to be shown as a history lesson. Above all, it's The Conspirator's relevant story about America's tragedies, its immediate aftermath & its ensuing justice that reeled me in. The beautiful craftsmanship helped. And I'm always down for a smart, old-fashioned historical biopic.