I found Robert Redford's The Conspirator to be enjoyable, interesting, intelligent and thoughtful. Set in 1865 near the end of the American Civil War (after Appomattox but the war's still ongoing), it revolves around the plot to assassinate US President Abraham Lincoln, Secretary of State William Seward and Vice President Andrew Johnson, and its aftermath, specifically the military tribunal judging Mary Surratt, who is charged as co-conspirator. The period detail is fascinating, yet the story is also of dynamic contemporary pertinence in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The Conspirator is shot in what appears to be natural lighting and combines the dramatic possibilities inscribed in the contained (almost claustrophobic) interiors of nineteenth century buildings with an inherently dramatic true story.
The major players are strong, as one would hope -- including Scotsman James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland, 2006); Dallas-born Robin Wright (The Secret Lives of Pippa Lee, 2009); Kevin Kline (The Big Chill, 1983); Englishman Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty, 1996); Danny Huston (who played Geoffrey "Fieger Time" Fieger in You Don't Know Jack, 2010); Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler, 2008); and Alexis Bledel (The Kate Logan Affair, 2010/11).
In addition, secondary characters flesh the movie out remarkably well. Stephen Root (Office Space, 1999; No Country for Old Men, 2007; Cedar Rapids, 2010/11) is a hoot as a witness for the prosecution: wild-eyed and feral, with a tinge of the comic. Colm Meaney (Miles O'Brien in latter day Star Trek series; The Snapper, 1993) is superb as General David Hunter,the gruff commanding head of the military tribunal. Finally, Jonathan Groff effectively exudes weirdness as another witness for the prosecution. There are others, too.
I caught a matinee showing of The Conspirator at the swanky 7th Street Movie Tavern in Fort Worth for $7. The 3:30 show was well-attended, packed or nearly so with people of all ages and types but mostly adults, mercifully.
Today's Rune: Harvest.
4 comments:
So what was Redford's conclusion about Surrat and Mudd...guilty or just caught up in the hysteria?
This sounds really interesting to me. I may have to rent this one.
Hey dudes ~ merci. Redford doesn't deal with Mudd and Surratt seems guilty, but it's not spelled out directly -- left up to the viewer.
Sounds interesting. I'll have to try to order it for our library.
Sorry again for my recent absence, btw. Spring is my busiest business time & I've been trying to take advantage of all the opportunities I can. Not to mention that the oppressive heat is rapidly bearing down on us, so I'm trying to get out with my cameras as much as I can before I'm housebound again.
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