The Conspirator (2010)

Everyone knows that President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by the actor John Wilkes Boothe while he attended a theater show. What isn't as well known is that several other people were put on trial for conspiracy in the crime, including a woman named Mary Surratt. The Conspirator is based on her true story.

For those who know the story, the film doesn't hold back on the grim details of her ordeal, taking it beyond the point where many films would have put up a written account of what happened next and then rolled the credits.

If you aren't familiar with the story, you're in for an emotional roller coaster. This story has a wonderful balance to it that shows the defendant's good and bad sides and practically puts you in the jury to contemplate innocence or guilt.

The characters are believable and very well played by the actors. They encompass the post-war social tension beautifully, and in many cases outright social biased.

The production design is equally notable for a dramatic period piece.

There are some points where the action seems to drag a bit, and the frequent jumps back and forth in time can get a little confusing since the film tries to show you everything that happened with multiple characters in the same time frame. But overall, the story comes together nicely.


Film Information: The Conspirator