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      The Conspirator

      2010, History/Drama, 2h 1m

      173 Reviews 10,000+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      The Conspirator is well cast and tells a worthy story, but many viewers will lack the patience for Redford's deliberate, stagebound approach. Read critic reviews

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      The Conspirator  Photos

      The Conspirator (2010) The Conspirator (2010) The Conspirator (2010) The Conspirator (2010) Robin Wright as Mary Surratt and James McAvoy as Frederick Aiken in "The Conspirator." (L-R) James McAvoy as Frederick Aiken and Tom Wilkinson as Reverdy Johnson in "The Conspirator." Robin Wright as Mary Surratt in "The Conspirator." (L-R) Robert Redford and James McAvoy on the set of "The Conspirator." The Conspirator (2010)

      Movie Info

      Following the assassination of President Lincoln, seven men and one woman are arrested and charged with conspiring to kill Lincoln, the vice president and the secretary of state. Lawyer Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy) reluctantly agrees to defend the lone woman, Mary Surratt (Robin Wright), who owns a boarding house where John Wilkes Booth and others met to plan their crimes. Aiken realizes that Mary may be innocent and being used as bait to capture her son, a suspect who is still at large.

      • Rating: PG-13 (Some Violent Content)

      • Genre: History, Drama, Mystery & thriller

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Robert Redford

      • Producer: Robert Redford, Greg Shapiro, Bill Holderman, Brian Falk, Robert Stone

      • Writer: James D. Solomon

      • Release Date (Theaters):  limited

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $11.5M

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Roadside Attractions

      • Production Co: The American Film Company

      • Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

      Cast & Crew

      James McAvoy
      Robin Wright
      Kevin Kline
      Danny Huston
      Tom Wilkinson
      Justin Long
      Colm Meaney
      James Badge Dale
      Johnny Simmons
      Toby Kebbell
      Jonathan Groff
      Stephen Root
      Joe Ricketts
      Jeremiah Samuels
      Webster Stone
      Newton Thomas Sigel
      Kalina Ivanov
      Craig McKay
      Louise Frogley
      Mark Isham
      Melissa Levander

      News & Interviews for The Conspirator

      Critic Reviews for The Conspirator

      Audience Reviews for The Conspirator

      • Mar 14, 2016

        Destined for American high school level history classrooms, this concerns the rushed trial the assassins of Abraham Lincoln, and asks if some Constitutional guarantees were tossed aside in order to achieve quick vengeance, as well as the execution of the first woman in U.S. history. It's a Robert Redford film and so reeks of quiet grace despite the pace being that of a dying-friend-in-the-hospital visit. The work of all onscreen is exemplary, particularly Robin Wright.

        kevin w Super Reviewer
      • Aug 14, 2015

        The Conspirator is one of the best true story/historical films I've seen. Nothing needed to have been added or taken from this accurate accounting of events for dramatic purposes. Without exaggeration, this is a legal story like no other; this is much more fascinating than fiction. I thought I knew this story, but I really didn't know the facts at all-just the headlines involving Booth. Those involved in this project did masterful jobs. Robert Redford crafts a revealing look at the rush to judgement. This tale of scapegoat justice is just as applicable in our time as in 1865. McAvoy and Wilkinson are spectacular, and Robin Wright displays a stoic sort of grace I haven't seen before. I can't imagine another actress capturing this woman's essence any better.

        Super Reviewer
      • Aug 04, 2014

        A controversial historical biopic, The Conspirator is an impassioned political drama from director Robert Redford. The film follows defense attorney Frederick Aiken as he attempts to defend Mary Surratt, who's charged as a conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, but he soon discovers that the trial is more about politics than truth. Redford takes a decidedly pro-Surratt position and is very condemning of the tribunal system that was used to try the assassination conspirators. Still, the plot addresses some fascinating issues and themes about war, justice, and law. The cast is also extraordinarily good, featuring James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood, and Tom Wilkinson. The Conspirator takes a few liberties with history, but it's a well-crafted and compelling film that asks provocative questions.

        Super Reviewer
      • Apr 20, 2013

        The film portrays the aftermath of Lincolns murder; the trial of those who were caught in the act. However, the focus here is on the defense of Mary Surratt, the mother of one of the suspects who allegedly escapes the crime scene.successfully, The execution of the movie is quite conventional, but its roller-coaster story makes it watchable enough. Of course, it wont be all the same interesting for those of us who are well versed with history (or, for that matter, any subject as far as I'm concerned). The courtroom dramas are usually known for their fiery dialogues/sequences, but there's hardly any here. All these deficiencies, coupled with average performances, doesn't let the movie rise above mediocrity. All in all, its a passable fare. The conspiracy to kill the President followed by the conspiracy to send a seemingly innocent woman to gallows only goes on to prove how aptly the flick is titled. If only it were equally great in other departments too......... 4.5/10

        flixster f Super Reviewer

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