The Conspirator
Meanwhile Steven Spielberg is preparing his own film about “Abraham Lincoln”, here is that of Robert Redford, which concerns the murder of this remarkable man and the trial that followed. Well done, but the possible academic, “The Conspirator” intriguing even if it sometimes lacks breath and emotion.
Mary Surratt (Robin Wright) is suspected of plotting against Abraham Lincoln. According to sources, his house was even the place where his son John and criminals have discussed this dark day of April 1865. The mother denies her involvement in this matter, and that his lawyer Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy) to prove his innocence. Difficult to properly perform his job, especially when it is believed that his client is guilty …
The transition from actor to director is not given to everyone. If one day or several other comedians try their luck, the results are rarely measure up. Robert Redford is almost an exception. Despite some efforts less interesting (like “The Legend of Bagger Vance”), it is nevertheless the author of “Ordinary People” and “Quiz Show”, two of America’s most intelligent productions of the last three decades.
After the lukewarm “Lions for Lambs” in 2007, the famous Sundance Kid remains in the political arena with “The Conspirator” in which he questions the foundations of his country of origin, the Constitution and the revenge of its citizens. The story can also be seen as a parable of the modern world where it is possible to replace the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the trial of Mary Surratt by the presence of Guantanamo prisoners that were not recognized guilty to the direction of the law.
The proof relies on a clever recreation of time and a strong screenplay, although unbelievably verbose. The realization manner Clint Eastwood is of a fully assumed classicism that proves itself sometimes dusty, especially in this return usage in the time and this usage of melodic music. Ironically, the emotion is rare and the film would have benefited from a tighter pace. To force to remain constantly in court (budget issue, no doubt), the film is slow to take off.
The contribution of a heterogeneous distribution satisfies (Kevin Kline villain, Tom Wilkinson mentor) or involuntarily smile (Justin Long is ridiculous with his mustache), usually found between these two extremes. Robin Wright is an excellent and Evan Rachel Wood positively surprises in the role of his daughter in tears. In return, James McAvoy does not always seem comfortable and Alexis Bledel is no weight in the shoes of his girlfriend.
Whoever certainly would have wanted that “The Conspirator” contains more strong dialogues or memorable scenes. Robert Redford seems to prefer to stay a little away from his subject, spending too much time on the disappointments of his idealistic lawyer (who will learn that the law is sometimes a misnomer). Yet when he is with Mary Surratt’s trial that allows itself to exist. This woman embodies in itself the prism of history, while a hostile country separated between North and South is the ideal culprit in this divided family between mother and son.
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