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The Conspirator

Play trailer Poster for The Conspirator PG-13 Released Apr 15, 2011 2h 1m History Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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56% Tomatometer 171 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
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.
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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.

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Critics Reviews

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Joshua Rothkopf Time Out Rated: 2/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard This may be a talky court drama, competent rather than inspired, but the fact that it is based on truth lends its argument force. Rated: 3/5 Jul 1, 2011 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian A very stately, bland piece of work, perhaps best shown to high school history classes. Rated: 2/5 Jun 30, 2011 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review A motion picture with the stuffy manner of historical reenactment, though it recalls a devastating incident in US history that has since been forgotten by the general public. Rated: 3/4 Jul 31, 2023 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Robert Redford directs a solid ensemble of actors with impeccable discretion . [Full review in Spanish] Aug 9, 2022 Full Review Cory Woodroof Lumination Network Nevertheless, this film will appeal to those that love history and those who havent touched a history book since high school. Feb 11, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jelisije J Another well done true story directed by Robert Redford that deals with the post assassination attempt of the conspirators who killed Abraham Lincoln and one lawyer who has to defend one of the conspirators who we the audience must decide whether she was guilty or not. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/04/25 Full Review Audience Member This movie turns the tragedy of Lincoln's assassination into a rule of law court room drama. Booth viewed Lincoln as a tyrant and was angered that Lincoln was going to give voting rights to African Americans after the war. But somehow Surratt was a victim because she was tried by a military tribunal. I did like that this film was historical and based on actual events. The acting and directing overall were good. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review Marina P It's about the rule of law, constitutional law, not the rule of fear in the name of keeping a country in order and "safe". Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/08/24 Full Review Nathan T A bit too one-sided in its telling of events, but not bad. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/24 Full Review Tom L Well written and acted. Pulls you in emotionally. Worth watching. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/14/23 Full Review louis b The cultural elite, Holly-weird (Hollywood) critics are full of themselves, with their low rating of this movie. I found it riveting, compelling, and sobering, because of the weight of history behind it. Too much of other movies is fluff for fickle-headed ninnies. This movie is hard hitting and brings to mind what is important. All the more relevant with deep state crap, fake news, political witch hunts, and kangaroo courts going on even in 2023. This is a most see movie, if you are a true American and believe in the U.S. Constitution. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Robert Redford

Director

James McAvoy

Frederick Aiken

Robin Wright

Mary Surratt

Kevin Kline

Secretary Edwin M. Stanton

Evan Rachel Wood

Anna Surratt

Danny Huston

Joseph Holt

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The Conspirator

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Movie Info

Synopsis 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.
Director
Robert Redford
Producer
Robert Redford, Greg Shapiro, Bill Holderman, Brian Falk, Robert Stone
Screenwriter
James D. Solomon
Distributor
Roadside Attractions
Production Co
The American Film Company
Rating
PG-13 (Some Violent Content)
Genre
History, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 15, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 11, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.5M
Runtime
2h 1m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
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