The Conspirator

PG-13

Released Apr 15, 2011

2 hr. 1 min.

History

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

56%

173 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

Audience Member

Interessante racconto che affonda le sue basi nella storia vera di alcuni dei "protagonisti" dell'omicidio del presidente Lincoln. La trama avrebbe tutti gli elementi per creare un dramma epico con annesso legal movie, e per entrare nei dettagli dei personaggi che compirono l'atto e del processo che ne conseguì. Purtroppo qui entra in gioco la non perfetta maestria di Robert Redford come regista; il gioco di luci ed i costumi appesantiscono ed invecchiano il film; alcuni personaggi vengono totalmente tralasciati e non si entra nel vero cuore del dramma, scalfendone solamente i bordi. Un buon film che poteva essere molto di più.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

isla s

This is a thoughtful film. Its not got a great deal of action but it does well at making you imagine being in the accused shoes and see things from various characters points of view. Its about principles and justice. I thought James MacAvoy did well in his role - it was interesting seeing him play such a role, defending the accused and I thought it was a surprisingly engrossing watch, one that I'd recommend to others.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

trevor t

Pretty good if you like a film that is not all shoot them up/beat then up or special effects. If this film is accurate and this was the American justice system the it was a disgrace. Enjoyed it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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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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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

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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
Executive Producer: Joe Ricketts, Jeremiah Samuels, Webster 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
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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