Review of The Conspirator (2011) by Leighton T — 19 Aug 2011
The film leads off with an advertisement for The American Film Company, and immediately I'm a little bit turned off. Their concern for historical accuracy and proper treatment of it seems to have blinded them from making a proper movie.
There are some good things going on here, but the film seems to be stifled by this appropriation. The lighting, the costumes, even the way the characters come off, the overall feel is hampered. As soon as the film starts I feel like I'm in a glorified PBS special, despite the fact there's an Oscar-winning director at hand, and several big names (including Oscar winner Kevin Kline) in it.
That feeling never goes away. It tells a good story, but it is quite long-winded in its two hours; they could've cut it down to an hour forty, an hour and a half, and it might've felt like less of a labor to get through.
The story was definitely intriguing, in that this is something history has glossed over in light of the actual main event being more intriguing. As the woman put on trial, Robin Wright has the best performance in the film.
She gives off strength and will amidst frailty and I believed in her performance with her every scene. I think the problem with the rest of the characters is that they are too one-dimensional for my taste.
The ones that are bad are definitely bad and the ones that are good are definitely good. The best films present complex characters, and historical ones should focus on that even more so, especially since its based off of real people and real events.
This review of The Conspirator (2011) was written by Leighton T on 19 Aug 2011.
The Conspirator has generally received positive reviews.
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