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The Conspirator (film)

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The Conspirator (film)
NameThe Conspirator
DirectorRobert Redford
ProducerRobert Redford, Brian Peter Falk
WriterJames D. Solomon
StarringJames McAvoy, Robin Wright, Tom Wilkinson, Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood
MusicMark Isham
CinematographyNewton Thomas Sigel
EditingCraig McKay
StudioThe American Film Company, Wildwood Enterprises
DistributorRoadside Attractions
Released10 September 2010 (Toronto International Film Festival), 15 April 2011 (United States)
Runtime122 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25 million
Gross$15.4 million

The Conspirator (film). *The Conspirator* is a 2010 American historical drama directed by Robert Redford and produced by The American Film Company. The film centers on the trial of Mary Surratt, the lone female charged as a conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It explores themes of justice, civil liberties, and the aftermath of the American Civil War through the perspective of her reluctant defense lawyer, Frederick Aiken.

Plot

In the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, a military tribunal is convened to try the alleged conspirators. Union war hero and newly-minted lawyer Frederick Aiken is assigned by his mentor, Senator Reverdy Johnson, to defend boarding house owner Mary Surratt, whose son, John Surratt, is a fugitive suspect. Despite his initial disdain for his client and belief in her guilt, Aiken becomes increasingly convinced that the tribunal, overseen by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and prosecutor Joseph Holt, is denying Surratt a fair trial in its rush to achieve vengeance. The film depicts his desperate legal efforts, the tense proceedings at the Old Arsenal Penitentiary, and Surratt's eventual execution by hanging, highlighting the conflict between martial law and constitutional rights.

Cast

* James McAvoy as Frederick Aiken * Robin Wright as Mary Surratt * Tom Wilkinson as Senator Reverdy Johnson * Kevin Kline as Secretary of War Edwin Stanton * Evan Rachel Wood as Anna Surratt * Justin Long as Nicholas Baker * Danny Huston as Prosecutor Joseph Holt * Colm Meaney as General David Hunter * Stephen Root as John Lloyd * Norman Reedus as Lewis Payne * Toby Kebbell as John Wilkes Booth * Jonathan Groff as Louis Weichmann * Johnny Simmons as John Surratt * James Badge Dale as William Hamilton * Alexis Bledel as Sarah Weston

Production

Director Robert Redford developed the project with The American Film Company, a studio dedicated to creating historically accurate films about American history. Screenwriter James D. Solomon conducted extensive research, drawing from trial transcripts and historical accounts. Principal photography began in October 2009, with locations in Savannah, Georgia and Washington, D.C. standing in for 1865 Washington, D.C.. The production design team meticulously recreated period settings, including the interior of the Old Arsenal Penitentiary and Mary Surratt's boarding house. Newton Thomas Sigel served as cinematographer, and the score was composed by Mark Isham.

Historical accuracy

The film adheres closely to the documented events of the conspiracy trial following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Key figures like Edwin Stanton, Joseph Holt, and Reverdy Johnson are portrayed with attention to their historical roles. The depiction of the military tribunal's procedures, the pressure for a swift verdict, and Mary Surratt's contested guilt are based on trial records. However, some dramatic license is taken, particularly in deepening the personal journey of Frederick Aiken and compressing certain timelines for narrative effect. Historians have noted that Aiken's transformation into a staunch defender was likely less pronounced in reality.

Reception

*The Conspirator* premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival and was released theatrically in the United States by Roadside Attractions in April 2011. Critical reception was mixed; praise focused on its sober tone, production values, and performances, particularly from Robin Wright and James McAvoy. Some reviewers, however, found the film overly didactic and its pacing deliberate. It performed modestly at the box office, grossing approximately $15.4 million worldwide against a $25 million budget. The film was discussed in media outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post for its contemporary resonance regarding legal rights during national trauma.

Home media

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in North America on August 16, 2011, by Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Special features included audio commentary by director Robert Redford, a making-of documentary, and a featurette on the historical research conducted by The American Film Company. It later became available for digital purchase and streaming on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.

Category:2010 films Category:American historical drama films Category:Films about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln Category:Films directed by Robert Redford Category:2010s English-language films