Movie Review: "The Conspirator"

Took a trip to the Robinson Cinemark yesterday and took in the new Robert Redford-directed movie "The Conspirator." The movie centers on the trial of those who conspired with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate Abraham Lincoln, VP Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward. More specifically, it centers on the trial of Mary Surratt (played by Robin Wright), who ran a boarding house where the conspirators met. The other featured character is Frederick Aiken (played by James McAvoy), a union army hero who is also a lawyer and is conscripted to defend Mary Surratt in her trial by a military tribunal.

Aiken is at first reluctant to participate in the defense of a conspirator in the plot that killed the President. He soon comes to realize that while he may be uncertain as to Surratt's guilt or innocence, he is fully aware that she is being denied the rights of all citizens under the Constitution, which he fought to uphold: the presumption of innocence, and trial by a jury of her peers, all in the name of "national security" and the "greater good" of the nation. Here is where the movie gets a bit ham-handed. One can't help but see that Redford is drawing a parallel to events going on today. In fact, substitute Dick Cheney for Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, and you get the idea.

All that aside, it is a very well done movie, and it certainly does raise questions about the fairness of the trial of Mary Surratt and as to whether or not justice was done. Wright and McAvoy are very good in their roles. Stanton is played by one of my favorite actors, Kevin Kline, and I have to admit that I didn't even realize it was him until the ending credits.

Any American history buff will enjoy seeing this movie.

By the way, as I watched The Conspirator, Marilyn was in another theater in the multi-plex watching "Water for Elephants." She gave it a thumbs up for any of you who might be interested.