The Conspirator | Value Of Justice For All | The Critique

Though its not one of the best film I have seen in last five years, it is high up there as one of the most thought provoking films. Robert Redford's The Conspirator is a historical drama about prosecution of Mary Surratt who was hanged for conspiring Abraham Lincoln's assassination and hints at miscarriage of justice.

After war, the reconstruction is in progress. However, peace is still not there with few battles pending. Lincoln has successfully won over South and ministry is trying to suppress dissenters. One such group led by John Wilkes Booth conspire and Booth kills Lincoln. Mary Surratt is one of the conspirators. She is tried and defended by Union war hero Federick Aiken. Initially, Aiken doesn't believe and is ready to defend because defending her is needed to ensure preserving her rights and ideals of founding fathers. In course of his case, he starts believing that she is not involved as suggested.

James McAvoy and Robin Wright plays their part brilliantly as Aiken and Surratt respectively. Kevin Kline as manipulative War of Secretary and Tom Wilkinson as Reverdy Johnson who mentors Aiken are exceptional in their roles. Camera work is really inspiring in few scenes like the hanging scene.

The brilliance with which the case is revealed in the story is laudable. Not many films stress upon the need to defend a person even if the public opinion and facts state otherwise. In tough times, sanity is needed and it doesn't take more than iron will to do that. Redford makes a point and he does it very hard.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh