The Conspirator

Well, would you look at that, I'm almost at the bottom of the release date pile, save for Germany. It's kind of strange to be watching a film about a time when America was so far divided with two separate ideologies literally at war with each other, when now, not all that much has changed, although the war is no longer fought by soldiers, but by politicians with bad tans.

Screen legend and Baggy Pants director, Robert Redford, has brought to the screen a courtroom drama that would rival any (possibly every) John Grisham novel. James D. Solomon (The Bronx is Burning) and Gregory Bernstein (Trial and Error) have screenwriter and story writer credits respectively.

On April 15th, 1865, Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States was assassinated while watching a performance of Our American Cousin at the theatre. While it was John Wilkes Booth (Toby Kebbell - Prince of Persia) who pulled the trigger, many other men were involved in the plot.

Charged as being part of the conspiracy is Mary Surrat (Robin Wright - A Christmas Carol). She ran a boarding house in which Booth and other men involved including Mary's son John (Johnny Simmons - Scott Pilgrim vs The World), frequently met behind closed doors. By association, Mary is deemed guilty of conspiring to assassinate the President.

Quick to see the damage this trial may do to his career, Senator Reverdy Johnson of Maryland (Tom Wilkinson - The Green Hornet) drops the trial into the lap of former war hero-now-attorney, Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy - X-Men: First Class). Aiken, like everyone else on the northern side of the Mason-Dixon line, thinks Mary is guilty and the military trial is just a formality. But, Aiken starts to grow a conscience and soon catches on to the blatant disregard that the prosecution, James Holt (Danny Huston - Robin Hood), and the judges has for the rights of their fellow citizen. Those pesky words in the Pledge of Allegiance that promise 'liberty and justice for all' have yet to be written. Aiken questions the credibility of all of the witnesses who testify against Mary and tries to get her a trial by her peers, not the military, as is her legal right.

Unfortunately, Aiken is also getting resistance from up high, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (Kevin Kline - Definitely, Maybe) wants Mary to hang along with Booth and co. Inter arma enim silent legis, indeed.

Redford has done a marvellous job here. I loved the sepia tones and smoke-filled rooms, and the use of natural light (well, what looked like natural light). The costumes are so meticulously done. The cast, fantastic. Special mentions to James Badge Dale (Rubicon) (Save Rubicon!!), Justin Long (Going The Distance), Evan Rachel Wood (Whatever Works), Alexis Bledel (Sin City), all were amazing. Robin Wright (I keep wanting to type 'Wright-Penn') is divine and McAvoy seems to be unstoppable of late. What a guy. Take some tissues with you, you will be needing them. With so much goodness going on on the screen, I think it's time to pull out the 'O' word... Will The Conspirator be nominated for an Oscar? I think it just might.

Things I learnt: best take down your posters of Justin Beiber in case he is involved in a dastardly scheme; I hope there's an Oscar for Best Beard; history always has the best plots.
Bravo.
Nine out of ten.