A Movie Moment: The Conspirator

The Movie:

The Conspirator (release 2010) is a drama based around the trial of Mary Surratt, a woman charged as a co-conspirator to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The movie stars James McAvoy as Frederick Aiken and Robin Wright as Mary Surratt and co-stars Justin Long, Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood, and Alexis Bledel (and more.)

The Interest:

What initially interested me in this movie was my interest in the Lincoln assassination (which aspired after a very long and thorough essay and presentation I gave on the subject in college.) At first I thought the movie would be centered on the conviction and capture of John Wilkes Booth (the man who shot Lincoln.) But ten minutes into the movie when Booth was already caught and killed I became confused…what was the movie about then?

The Conclusion:

If you have researched Lincoln’s assassination you will have realized the movie cannot end too happily. The pressure and loyalty (or lack-there-of) exhibited by Aiken (Mary Surratt’s controversial Northern lawyer) were only vaguely expressed during the film, only brief scenes here and there. Normally that would not be enough but McAvoy’s performance enhanced the frustration and stress Aiken was feeling without digging too deep into his own life. The movie ended less than happy. Surratt is hung despite the determined efforts of Aiken and no one “changes there mind” about her afterwards.

However, Aiken himself experiences a mild change of heart. At the beginning of the movie he feels anger and hatred toward Mary Surratt and repeatedly refuses to defend her on the account he believes she is guilty. At the end he realizes the prejudice and unjust actions being taken against her during her trial and becomes sympathetic. The movie gives a good glimpse into the life of a Southerner in the North after the war.

The Rating:

Over-all, based on the performance of the actors, the plot, and the fact that I would absolutely watch this movie again I would give The Conspirator 3 ½ to 4 stars and suggest it to anyone who likes historical drama and bitter battles between doing bad things for good reasons and doing good things for bad reasons.