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Thursday, October 20, 2016

The Conspiritor


As I watched this 2010 film I immediately flashed back to a 1988 film staring Jodi Foster. It was this film that she won Ms. Foster her first of two Academy Awards. They were both rewarding her an Oscar for Leading Actress. (She won the other for Silence of the Lambs just three years later.)  In that film (The Accused) a woman was rapped and her assailant got off scot free. While that film was awe-inspiring and worthy of merit. This feature length drama was not.

         In this film (The Conspirator) another innocent woman is rapped by the justice system. Her name is Mary Surratt and her only crime is running the boarding house where John Wilkes Booth stayed. John Wilkes Booth as you will read in history books in the man who pulled of the most popular presidential assignation in US history.   He  (Booth) formed a friendship with John Surrat and these two men are found guilty in conspiring to kill Abraham Lincoln. John Surratt in the only son of the titular character. When he (John) goes into hiding the town and entire nation wants justice so they go after Mrs. Surratt who is the only link they have to capturing the “true killer”. 

         This movie bills itself as the story you never heard. (Oh yea like, that has never been said before.) This screenplay is a flimsy as the case on the case on central character. This film attempts to “play” with your emotions. Yes, I made the pun. I realize that (the pun) may leave a bad taste in your mouth but so did this movie. Leave a bad taste in my mouth that is.  If you forgive can find it on your hearts to forgive me for making the pun then you should also forgive the writers of this movie.

The writers are not the only ones to blame however in making this lackluster feature. The casting director(s), the cast themselves and even the editors should be hung for treason.

They teamed up to rob us (the audience) of both its time and money. While I only paid one dollar to rent this film from my local Redbox. On the night before Hurricane Irene hit.  I still feel as If I were robbed. The concept of the film and even its trailer left me expecting more. Well much like Hurricane Irene this film did not live up to the hype.

          The movie never really had a decent climax. Heck, it never really got enough momentum for one in the first place. The pace of the movie was decent mind you it just never really got the ball rolling if you will. It never had any real Glory.

Despite the backdrop of the Civil war setting and time frame and the premise of an untold “true story”. I feel this film never reached it full potential. I usually love Robin Wright Penn who was the central figure in this motion picture. I also have the utmost admiration and respect for Robert Redford who sat in the director’s chair for this drama.

Well much like a typical directors chair this film was capable of being folded and tucked under a car seat or picnic table. I will now attempt to put this movie out of my mind drive on towards better movie choices and films to review in the future. 

Since I my electricity is back up and running not only can I post this day old review I can also view more films and movies. If you have any ideas for film you want to see reviews on this blogspot simply reply here and give me suggestions. Much like President Lincoln I am “a man of the people” I enjoy seeing and all kinds of film from any walk of life. Just don’t put me in the corner balcony of a stage play any time soon. We all know what that did to the 16th President of the United States of America.


Grade D

No comments:

A note from an editor!

Hi Matthew,


Thank you for the time and effort you put into this piece, especially on a Saturday morning. I can tell you definitely took good notes of everything that was going on during the event!


We still have some work to do before this piece is ready to print. Your piece has a lot of information, but it doesn’t sound like a news article. What was the point of his speech/presentation? Why was he addressing this audience? What is Vanguard? What does the company do – who does it serve? You spend a lot of time narrating (for example, how he was injured), but did not report on the purpose of the event. You can maybe mention his appearance/joking about it in a sentence or two, but do not take several paragraphs to do so. Also, I like how you mentioned where the name “Vanguard” comes from.


There are a lot of spelling errors in this piece – make sure you proof read each sentence carefully.


I know I am getting back to you a little later I hoped, and I’m sorry about that! But if you have time tonight, please go through my suggestions and try to rework your piece. You can send me what you have tonight/tomorrow morning. Please bring a copy of it to the meeting tomorrow and we will discuss it further from there.


Once again, thanks for your hard work and promptness! Remember this is a learning process, and we are all part of the Waltonian team!


Talk to you soon!


Ten Most pathetic movie stars that still have careers.

(In A - B -C Order)


1. Hayden Christensen


2. Tom Crusie


3. Kevin Costner


4. Keeanu Reeves


5. Denise Richards


6. Adam Sandler


7. Arnold Schwarzenegger


8. William Shatner


9. Sylvester Stalloan


10. John Claude Van dahm