The Conspirator (2010)
The Conspirator is a courtroom drama about those involved in Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Major history buffs might already know the tidbits presented in this story, but I was a political science major in college, and even I was surprised by parts of the plot.
Seven men are on trial, as well as one woman, the mother of one of the co-conspirators. The only man who steps up as a defense lawyer for the accused is the young and inexperienced James McAvoy, and he comes across countless obstacles as he tries to give Robin Wright her right to a fair trial.
If you didn’t know Robert Redford directed this movie, you would probably think to yourself, “James McAvoy must really like Robert Redford!” As it is, I’m sure he does like Robert Redford, as does the rest of the all-star cast, since stars famously vie to work for the father of Sundance. If you close your eyes during some of the courtroom speeches, it almost sounds like Redford himself is talking. I think the directorial influence on the leading actor is rather cute, and it’s easy to imagine that had this movie been made thirty years earlier, the defense lawyer would probably have been blond.
The Conspirator has beautiful, realistic set and costume design, and the men in the cast—McAvoy, Kevin Kline, Tom Wilkinson, and Colm Meaney—seem authentic in their surroundings. My biggest complaint about the film are the ladies. Neither Robin Wright, nor Evan Rachel Wood, and especially not Alexis Bledel, seem like they belonged in the 1860s. Trying to ignore Bledel’s contemporary face and voice is impossible, but thankfully she has a very tiny part. Wood also feels very contemporary, the way she moves and the patter of her speech. And even though Wright has a plain face and doesn’t sound like a California valley girl, she still seems contemporary. Women were treated differently back then, and a woman her age would have a completely different aura from decades of living in the 1800s. Wright feels like an independent woman who has never been mistreated or disrespected.
That criticism aside, if you like that era of history, this is a very good movie to watch. Robert Redford is an excellent director, and it’s very fun to see McAvoy project his essence in the lead role. Check out the adorable backstage picture!
More Kevin Kline movies here!
More Robert Redford movies here!
Seven men are on trial, as well as one woman, the mother of one of the co-conspirators. The only man who steps up as a defense lawyer for the accused is the young and inexperienced James McAvoy, and he comes across countless obstacles as he tries to give Robin Wright her right to a fair trial.
If you didn’t know Robert Redford directed this movie, you would probably think to yourself, “James McAvoy must really like Robert Redford!” As it is, I’m sure he does like Robert Redford, as does the rest of the all-star cast, since stars famously vie to work for the father of Sundance. If you close your eyes during some of the courtroom speeches, it almost sounds like Redford himself is talking. I think the directorial influence on the leading actor is rather cute, and it’s easy to imagine that had this movie been made thirty years earlier, the defense lawyer would probably have been blond.
The Conspirator has beautiful, realistic set and costume design, and the men in the cast—McAvoy, Kevin Kline, Tom Wilkinson, and Colm Meaney—seem authentic in their surroundings. My biggest complaint about the film are the ladies. Neither Robin Wright, nor Evan Rachel Wood, and especially not Alexis Bledel, seem like they belonged in the 1860s. Trying to ignore Bledel’s contemporary face and voice is impossible, but thankfully she has a very tiny part. Wood also feels very contemporary, the way she moves and the patter of her speech. And even though Wright has a plain face and doesn’t sound like a California valley girl, she still seems contemporary. Women were treated differently back then, and a woman her age would have a completely different aura from decades of living in the 1800s. Wright feels like an independent woman who has never been mistreated or disrespected.
That criticism aside, if you like that era of history, this is a very good movie to watch. Robert Redford is an excellent director, and it’s very fun to see McAvoy project his essence in the lead role. Check out the adorable backstage picture!
More Kevin Kline movies here!
More Robert Redford movies here!