The Conspirator

Now this is a film that I really enjoyed, though hardly anyone seems to share my opinion. This film concerns Frederick Aiken (another good role for James McAvoy), a veteran of the Union army in the Civil War but also a lawyer by trade. His first assignment after recovering from his war injuries is to defend Mary Surratt (a graceful Robin Wright) the mother of known conspirator, John. She also owns the boarding house where John Wilkes Booth and his helpers met to plan the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Instead of given a normal trial, Mary is tried in a military turbanal. After all the country is still under marshal law. This is another film where the supporting characters shine, Kevin Kline as the nasty secretary of state who hates what Aiken is doing, Tom Wilkinson as the southern gentleman who is also Aiken's boss, Evan Rachel Wood and Johnny Simmons shine as Mary Surratt's two children who had decided to lead very different lives. Alexis Bledel and Justin Long also do quite well in a period piece. But the film belongs to McAvoy and Wright and they excel in difficult, juicy roles.
Aiken constantly goes against the grain, he is defending a woman that everyone believes to be guilty, which she may well be, but certainly she deserves a trial with her peers, but this is not granted to her. The film gives the viewer plenty to think about, should a known traitor to her country be punished, or should she be treated fairly? Maybe, the answer will be argued over forever. Grade: B+