The Conspirator (2011)

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie but i was pleasantly surprised. It is gripping and shows just about every human emotion good and bad. All the actors were excellent, James McAvoy and Robin Wright were both outstanding as the two main characters in this true life story, and Kevin Kline was quite brilliant. But for me the movie was more about how unjust those who should be upholding justice can be. The blood lust and desire for vengeance over ride normal human feeling and compassion. Yes those who committed the terrible murders and attempted murders deserved their punishment, but it was unclear whether Mary Surratt was involved to the extent the prosecution were trying to prove. It was obvious that they were not interested in the truth and even where evidence showed reasonable doubt, she was still found guilty. Her guilt was in fact already determined and the court case a sham. America should be ashamed of how they treated this woman. This is story I was unaware of. Her story is so beautifully told and I am just surprised this movie did not get more publicity and gained the success it deserved.

This started off as if it would be really good because of an interesting premise, a good cast and high production value but the film failed to deliver.The story is told from the point of view of a former Union soldier turned lawyer, played by James McAvoy with an out of place English accent, as he must defend a woman implicated in the assassination plot of Abraham Lincoln. He is conflicted by his want for revenge and his belief that all people deserve a fair trial. The difficult relationship between these two characters, one Union and one Confederate, in a wider sense symbolises the process of the country coming to terms with peace after the hard fought American Civil War. McAvoy wants to give in to his desire for vengeance and 'swift justice' but is also aware that principles are only worth something if they are followed when it is difficult to do so. The restriction of civil liberties and the slippery slope that can follow highlighted here is relevant to increasing concerns over privacy in the 21st century which gives the film some substance. While highlighting this is a noble aim I think the film would have been better served by focusing on the victim of this injustice rather than the lawyer. I mildly enjoyed the recounting of the story without ever really investing emotionally which for me is the films main problem.

It's 1865. Captain Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy) returns as a hero looking to be a lawyer and be with his girlfriend Sarah Weston (Alexis Bledel). John Wilkes Booth and his companions attack the President and Secretary of State William Seward. After Lincoln's death, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (Kevin Kline) rounds up the suspects including Mary Surratt (Robin Wright). Her son John Surratt had escaped. Maryland Senator Reverdy Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) is Mary Surratt's lawyer and he asks Aiken to be his second chair. Major General David Hunter (Colm Meaney) heads the military tribunal. Johnson as a southerner wants the reluctant Aiken to take over the case. Sarah and his friend Nicholas Baker (Justin Long) are both initially shocked. Anna Surratt (Evan Rachel Wood) is Mary's daughter.It's a fascinating lesser known history. The problem for the movie is that she and her son are basically guilty of something. The story is interesting, but it is never elevated to a point where I actually care about her case. The government essentially found the right people. She may have been overcharged and the government may have railroaded her. At best, she knew of their conspiracy and she didn't stop it. I don't even think that the movie's position and whether she knew the conspiracy turn from kidnapping to murder is not a big deal. This is like an academic exercise although it's a very fascinating one. The movie is also hampered by some slow spots in its two hour running time.

This movie was intriguing and the setting, costumes, and actors were wonderful. Wright portrayed Mary Surratt in a way that showed the weight of the time and situation which she was in. The film gives insight on how politics and legal systems were in the late 1800s. I've always been fascinated with Lincoln, even as a child, so seeing the aftermath of his assassination was amazing. Before watching this film I had never heard of Mary Surratt and found the whole story to grab my attention from start to finish. Overall I think that this film was very compelling and sparks a greater interest toward the Civil War and Lincoln's assassination.