The Conspirator Review

                                                      

                                                         2 1/2 Nuts

Director: Robert Redford

John Wilkes Booth killed President Lincoln on April 15, 1865.  Exactly one hundred and forty six years later The Conspirator is released and asks the question; who conspired with Booth to take down the president?  Mentioned in the film’s tagline and throughout the movie comes the answer; “One bullet killed Lincoln, but not one man”.  Her name is Mary Surratt, a middle-aged Catholic, Confederate sympathizer, played by Robin Wright. She ran a boarding house where Booth stayed along with many of the other men complicit in planning the assassination of President Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward.

The film focuses primarily on Frederick Aiken, played by James McAvoy, an ex- union officer, placed in the unenviable position of defending Mrs. Surratt.  Although it is Surratt who is on trial, the entire film is from the viewpoint of Aiken. The movie centers more on the troubles he experience while defending Surratt, than that of her own.  Internally he is conflicted because he is unsure of her innocence, and at the same time he is being ostracized from society and looked upon as a traitor to the Union.  These are the more fascinating parts of the film.

Unfortunately the appealing parts of the film are surrounded by extremely slow periods, which seem to drag on and go nowhere.  The movie’s premise is rather intriguing but there are too many scenes riddled with unnecessary dialogue. The court room scenes standout in the film; this is mostly due to McAvoy’s strong performance fighting for this seemingly guilty woman. 

The issue posed in the film is not whether Surratt is innocent or guilty but rather is she being tried fairly.  Redford, the director of the film, purposely raises this issue.  This was a strange time for the country.  The Civil War had just ended and the people wanted to see the guilty parties punished for the atrocities committed.  The film depicts the trial as being exceedingly contrived; it seems like no matter what happens, whatever evidence Aiken presents, Mrs. Surratt will be found guilty.

The cinematography and set design feels true to the time period.  The picture is not as sharp as many movies made today; dust seems to be present in many of the courtroom shots however that only adds to the authenticity. 

In a peaNut Shell: At times The Conspirator has potential to be a great film, but can’t seem to sustain it throughout.The story is fascinating and raises a lot of questions regarding the judicial system, especially military court. The film can be rather slow and boring at parts but people interested in the post- Civil war period should go and see it.

First published by The Daily Targum