Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
James McAvoy | ... | ||
Robin Wright | ... | ||
Kevin Kline | ... | ||
Evan Rachel Wood | ... | ||
Tom Wilkinson | ... | ||
Justin Long | ... |
Nicholas Baker
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Danny Huston | ... | ||
James Badge Dale | ... |
William Hamilton
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Colm Meaney | ... |
General Hunter
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Alexis Bledel | ... | ||
Johnny Simmons | ... | ||
Toby Kebbell | ... |
John Wilkes Booth
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Jonathan Groff | ... |
Louis Weichmann
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Stephen Root | ... |
John Lloyd
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John Cullum | ... |
In the wake of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, seven men and one woman are arrested and charged with conspiring to kill the President, the Vice-President, and the Secretary of State. The lone woman charged, Mary Surratt, 42, owns a boarding house where John Wilkes Booth and others met and planned the simultaneous attacks. Against the ominous back-drop of post-Civil War Washington, newly-minted lawyer, Frederick Aiken, a 28-year-old Union war-hero, reluctantly agrees to defend Surratt before a military tribunal. As the trial unfolds, Aiken realizes his client may be innocent and that she is being used as bait and hostage in order to capture the only conspirator to have escaped a massive manhunt, her own son. Written by Anonymous
I had the pleasure of viewing this film at a press screening recently, as well as hearing an interesting Q&A afterwords. I was very impressed with this film.
I've read extensively about the topic of the Lincoln assassination, and came into the theatre expecting another Hollywood style period piece, one that minces facts and creates story lines where there are none. I came out feeling very contented, and a little teary. This movie is very well acted and truly conveys the emotion felt by the characters in history, unlike some civil war films.
This movie truly is about the struggle between justice and country. I won't give much away, but the emotional conflicts in this film are very deep and strong. I was very surprised at James Mcavoy's handling of the character, and more so his good American accent :D. Robin Wright and other supporting cast are also superb. Do see this movie when it comes out! It's a fantastic drama that will keep you at the edge of your seat, mixed in with fantastic period details. Any fan of American history and the civil war will enjoy this.