James McAvoy: 10 greatest movies of all time
By Ivan Mora
9. The Conspirator
Original Release Date: The Conspirator premiered in theaters on August 15, 2011.
Box Office Earnings: The Conspirator plummeted into their opening weekend falling out of the top 10 earning the 11th rank with $3.5 million. Facing an uphill battle, they were completely ousted by the much anticipated, at the time, Scream 4 who secured the second spot behind Opening Weekend leader Rio with a whopping $39 million. For 2011 that was a successful opening. The Conspirator, on the other hand, working on a $25 million budget, can not say the same.
Critical Acclaim: The Conspirator initially received rave reviews, especially from the Rolling Stones and the Los Angeles Times, but was yet criticized for its slow theatrical approach. The historical context and Lincoln assassination story are very intriguing but Director Robert Redford fails to deliver that interactive spark between the characters and the story. The political drama received a 55% rating from 169 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
About the Role: James McAvoy plays a young war hero turned lawyer who defends Mary Surratt, played by the wonderful Robin Wright, who is on trial for conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. He becomes close to Mary and starts to believe her innocence.
Simply the Best: McAvoy playing any intense dramatic character is always a fun time, especially when it involves a courtroom setting. Despite the political theme and at times dull transitions, McAvoy and Wright deliver superb performances that play well off each other. Their scenes together are what saves this movie from falling apart and McAvoy defending Wright is pure bliss. “Tread Lightly? I will not tread lightly. You have predetermined her fate.”