The Conspirator - 2010

American Film Company, The, Wildwood Enterprises

Directed by Robert Redford

Cast:

• Frederick Aiken – James McAvoy
• Mary Surratt – Robin Wright
• Edwin Stanton – Kevin Kline
• Anna Surratt – Evan Rachel Wood
• Reverdy Johnson – Tom Wilkinson
• Nicholas Baker – Justin Long
• Joseph Holt – Danny Huston
• William Hamilton – James Badge Dale
• David Hunter – Colm Meany
• Sarah Weston – Alexis Bledel
• John Surratt – Johnny Simmons

Story: 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, even though she and the other accused are civilians. 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. During the course of the trial, it becomes obvious this is a kangaroo court where the defendants will be found guilty.

Review: Produced by the American Film Company to be an accurate accounting of this historical event, there is little doubt that any fan of history will find this film compelling. This is not merely a telling of events, but a revealing look at the ability of those in power to bend the law to their will, and an indictment of the government in general. While there are some inaccuracies in the film according to historical records, the events are basically told in a straightforward and truthful fashion. James McAvoy becomes the pawn that is sacrificed during the trial, a decorated war veteran with a law degree who has no experience at law. McAvoy delivers a plausible and believable performance, as does Robin Wright as Mary Surratt, the woman who may or may not actually be guilty. Kevin Kline and Tom Wilkinson bring their formidable talents to the screen as the Secretary of War and the Senator from Maryland who is charged with Surratt's defense. While it may seem at first the appointment to defend Mary Surratt is an honor, it becomes apparent it will destroy Aiken (McAvoy's character), who at length becomes the first editor of the Washington Post. Rated PG-13 for some violent content, this is a compelling drama which should be included in the American history portion of any high school curriculum. Collectible for history buffs and fans of Redford.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - 2011

Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Scott Rudin Productions

Directed by David Fincher

Cast:

• Mikael Blomkvist – Daniel Craig
• Lisbeth Salander – Rooney Mara
• Henrik Vanger – Christopher Plummer
• Martin Vanger – Stellan Skarsgard
• Dirch Frode – Steven Birkoff
• Erika Burger – Robin Wright
• Anita Vanger – Joely Richardson
• Cecilia Vanger – Geraldine James
• Dragan Armansky – Goran Visnjic

Story: A renown Swedish investigative reporter, Mikael Blomkvist, who has exposed the illicit dealings of a major financial player is taken to court and successfully sued. He resigns from his position at his newspaper and is approached by a retired industrialist to investigate the forty year old mystery of his granddaughter's disappearance. As he investigates, he finds there are many skeletons hidden in this family's closet, including the family Nazi's, but most of his leads are ending in dead ends. Mikael decides he requires assistance. The industrialist had Mikael's background checked prior to hiring him, so Mikael demands to see the report. Having read things that could only be discovered by an adept hacker, he insists on hiring this individual as his assistant. Lisbeth is a very different individual, a thin, goth appearing girl with multiple piercings and tattoos, including a large dragon across her left shoulder. We see enough of her life to know she is a hard individual who cares little for the conventions of society, and has a very mean temper. But she is an adept researcher who knows how to analyze information, and together, Mikael and Lisbeth must piece together the mystery of the disappearance of Vanger's granddaughter.

Review: Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig form an interesting and unusual pair in this thriller based on the book by Swedish author Stieg Larsson. There is a lot of exposition at first, since the characters are new and their lives complicated, to say the least. And frankly, at just under two and one half hours, I would not be a proponent, but this film is an exception. The background of the characters, especially Lisbeth's, is required to understand the darkness of not only the family being investigated, but the investigators themselves. The depth of Lisbeth's darkness can be seen in the way she deals with a purse snatcher in the subway, and with the abusive state appointed clerk who administers her funds after her guardian is hospitalized. Christopher Plummer is superb as the retired industrialist who only wants closure to the disappearance of his granddaughter, an event he might have put out of his mind except that every year on his birthday he receives the same gift she gave him before she disappeared. Stellan Skarsgard gives a wonderful performance as the incompetent grandson who is ruining the company, and Joely Richardson is magnificently understated in her role. Perhaps the most impressive player is Daniel Craig, who continues to astound us with his range and depth of ability. To transition from the hard, emotionless Bond to this role is a total reversal of character, but one we have seen before in Defiance and Lara Croft. Craig, I believe, is the next actor to be added to the list of phenomenal performers like DeNiro, Hopkins, Pacino, and a scattered few more. Lastly, Rooney Mara impresses me with her ability to remain detached yet empathic in this role. Overall, this film is a wonderful peek into the dark underbelly of the human condition, and a must see for fans of Hitchcock, Craven, and the other masters of horror who have gone before. Rated R for graphic violence, rape, torture, language, and sexuality, I would hazard to say this film belongs in your collection if you are a fan of the detective genre.

Moneyball - 2011

Columbia Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, Michael De Luca Productions

Directed by Bennett Miller

Cast:

• Billy Beane – Brad Pitt
• Peter Brand – Jonah Hill
• Art Howe – Phillip Seymour Hoffman
• Sharon – Robin Wright
• Casey Beane – Kerris Dorsey

Story: Based on the book “Moneyball, the Art of Winning an Unfair Game”, this film gives us insight into the predicament of Billy Beane, General Manager of the Oakland “A's”. In 2002, the A's are the lowest funded ball team in professional baseball, and they are about to lose their top three players to free agency. Billy Beane is at wits end, and is meeting with various ball clubs to arrange player trades when he runs into Peter Brand in a meeting with the Cleveland Indians. Brand is a young, rotund man just out of Yale with a degree in economics who has developed a system for analyzing player stats that goes against everything in use at the time. When Billy questions him on his methods, he sees a way to build a championship team without the huge contracts that are awarded to star players. Brand's method is simple, he looks at the probability that a player can get on base, and by doing so, increase the odds he will score. While Beane fails to get the Championship with the team he builds, they do succeed in winning 20 games in a row, a record never before achieved in professional baseball.

Review: Here is a sports film that talks about more than just the players. Brad Pitt gives us a stellar performance as Billy Beane, a General Manager who started out as a player who never reached his potential. He gives us not only insight into the professional life of Billy Beane, but the man himself. We learn he is divorced, involved in his daughter's life, and trying to remain civil with his ex's new partner. He has ideas that he can't support in the accepted method, but with his reputation, he has a lot of leeway with the owner, and when he discovers Phillip Brand (Jonah Hill), he sees a way to make the kind of team that has the potential to win a championship. Jonah Hill is excellent as Brand, developing his character from the fresh out of college statistician with little self confidence to the man who learns to accept the responsibilities of management. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is strong as Manager Art Howe, but I get the feeling there are missing scenes because we just don't get enough of him in the film. Kerris Dorsey is impressive in the role of Casey Beane, and also co-wrote the song “The Show” and performs it for us in a touching scene where Billy is buying his daughter a guitar. For baseball fans, this is a movie about a pivotal moment in baseball history. For Brad Pitt fans, this is a chance to see Brad in a role that doesn't involve spies, cons, wars, and explosions. For the rest of us, this is a film to watch and enjoy. Rated PG-13 for a few scenes with harsh language, I'd recommend it for the entire family. Collectible for sports fans and lovers of good “slice of life” films.