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The Conspirator

Play trailer Poster for The Conspirator PG-13 2011 2h 1m History Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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56% Tomatometer 170 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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The Conspirator

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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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Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard 07/01/2011
3/5
This may be a talky court drama, competent rather than inspired, but the fact that it is based on truth lends its argument force. Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian 06/30/2011
2/5
A very stately, bland piece of work, perhaps best shown to high school history classes. Go to Full Review Tim Robey Daily Telegraph (UK) 06/30/2011
2/5
Makes you pause and consider, not the fragility of justice and human rights in extreme circumstances, but the fusty and enfeebled condition to which Robert Redford's filmmaking has sunk. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 07/31/2023
3/4
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. Go to Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 08/09/2022
Robert Redford directs a solid ensemble of actors with impeccable discretion . [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Cory Woodroof Lumination Network 02/11/2022
Nevertheless, this film will appeal to those that love history and those who havent touched a history book since high school. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Oct 9 Based on a true story in 2 hours and 1 minute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Some Violent Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $11,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Rob A Oct 6 This period piece about the Lincoln assasination was directed by the late Robert Redford is worth a watch on a dull afternoon. James McAvoy and Robin Wright were solid. See more Madam D @Madam1948 Jun 26 Goes to show that following the law is not always what courts do. History will hopefully record how the current courts are screwing up. See more Jelisije J @jjosifovic 01/04/2025 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. See more C 11/28/2024 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. See more Marina P 07/08/2024 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". See more Read all reviews
The Conspirator

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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

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) View more photos

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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