The Conspirator

Directed by Robert Redford, The Conspirator details the aftermath of Lincoln’s infamous assassination – with the story primarily revolving around the trial of one of John Wilkes Booth’s supposed conspirators (Robin Wright’s Mary Surratt). Redford’s expectedly deliberate sensibilities ensure that The Conspirator does take a while to get going, with the viewer’s interest initially held by the impressively familiar roster of starring and supporting performers. (The cast boasts appearances by, among others, Kevin Kline, Tom Wilkinson, Justin Long, Alexis Bledel, and Stephen Root.) There reaches a point, however, at which the trial becomes the film’s primary focus and one can’t help but be drawn into the real-life story, with the movie’s courtroom scenes ultimately standing as a highlight (and there’s little doubt that James McAvoy delivers a riveting turn as Mary’s reluctant attorney). Redford’s reliance on a slow-moving pace actually works quite well here and proves instrumental in establishing an atmosphere of convincing authenticity, with the consistently watchable vibe often heightened by the inclusion of several downright enthralling interludes – with the unexpectedly moving finale cementing The Conspirator‘s place as a solid, unapologetically old-fashioned courtroom drama.

***1/2 out of ****