Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011

The Conspirator

Usually when I watch a film directed by Robert Redford, I battle with yawns. I fight back heavy lids. I struggle to keep from nodding. Stop the presses. Redford has made a movie that is riveting. Not riveting material that Redford turned into a snorefest. This is an interesting, true story. A story attached to the larger story of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. This is the fallout of the people who associated with John Wilkes Booth before he pulled the trigger on the President. Led by Robin Wright and James McAvoy, their performances burn and Redford lets the actors act. It’s a period piece and sometimes historical dramas can be cumbersome but there are no wasted scenes here. Here is a nicely crafted drama where the suspense isn’t manufactured. It’s historical evidence. Worth a rent.