The Conspirator Blu-ray Review

"The Conspirator" arrives on Blu-ray with a striking VC-1 encoded 1080p transfer in 2.40:1, meticulously crafted to evoke a 19th-century aesthetic. Employing a highly stylized visual design, the film's palette is predominantly close to black and white, interspersed with muted colors, resulting in a subdued sepia tone. The strategic desaturation creates an atmosphere akin to sepia-toned daguerreotypes. Browns and blues are deliberately muted, allowing grays and whites to be more defined. This choice, while unconventional, effectively supports the film's thematic elements and period setting.

The cinematography leverages low-light conditions and natural lighting, particularly in numerous dark sequences. Blacks are notably deep with appreciable gradations and dynamic highlights that maintain detail despite the dim surroundings. However, some scenes do exhibit visibility loss due to shadow crush, though this does not detract significantly from the viewing experience. Contrast and brightness are managed to preserve detail without overdriving, enhancing the film’s moody ambiance. The occasional use of effulgent light streaming through windows creates an intentional blooming effect, imparting a dreamlike quality to certain scenes.

The Blu-ray reproduces these intentions faithfully, boasting impressive sharpness in well-lit close-ups where fine details such as facial features, hair, and clothing textures are richly rendered. Although long-range shots are less resolved, they remain dimensionally satisfying. The applied filtering and cinematography subtly impact perceived resolution but overall, images remain lucid. A light veil of grain adds a film-like texture, enhancing the high production values inherent to the film. This high-definition presentation successfully captures the creative vision of the filmmakers and offers an engaging viewing experience that doesn't adhere to typical glossy standards.

The audio presentation of "The Conspirator" on Blu Ray features an expertly crafted DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that fully capitalizes on the capabilities of modern home theater systems. Primarily a dialogue-driven film, it ensures that speech is reproduced with transparent realism and lucid texture, maintaining an impeccable balance within the front soundstage. Indeed, dialogue clarity is outstanding, making it effortless to follow the nuanced conversations that drive the narrative forward. In larger group scenes, the dialogue distribution across the surrounds enhances the lifelike quality of the audio, immersing the viewer in the historical setting.

The surround mix is equally praiseworthy, utilizing the entire sound field to recreate the various acoustic environments depicted onscreen. The rear channels deliver a well-blended combination of spatial ambience and directional cues, offering subtle yet effective support to the front channels. From the evocative echoes within smaller rooms of the mid-19th century to the dynamic pans of horses' hooves, the sound design enriches the overall experience. The initial scenes marked by Civil War battles and celebratory fireworks are notably impactful with great LFE presence, setting a high standard for audio fidelity and dynamic range throughout the film.

Mark Isham's musical score is seamlessly integrated, providing unobtrusive but emotionally potent backing to key moments in the film. Throughout its runtime, "The Conspirator" excels in delivering a highly detailed and immersive audio experience that complements its historical drama roots. The surround activity is consistent and finely tuned, ensuring that every ambient sound and musical note supports the onscreen action and narrative context robustly. This audio track stands out for its exceptional fidelity and dynamic range, engaging viewers with its meticulously crafted sonic landscape.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Conspirator" present a rich and well-rounded complement to the film, providing extensive historical context and behind-the-scenes insights. Key features include a detailed commentary from director Robert Redford, though somewhat subdued and with notable pauses, it offers intriguing insights into the project's development and historical adaptations. The standout feature is the 66-minute documentary "The Conspirator: The Plot to Kill Lincoln," which delves deeply into the historical events depicted in the film, despite occasional oddities such as different actors in re-enactments. Additionally, "The Making of The Conspirator" and various "Witness History" segments enrich the viewing experience by exploring aspects like production design, costume creation, and the complexities surrounding Mary Surratt's trial. The photo gallery, theatrical trailer, and TV spots round out the comprehensive set of supplements.

Extras included in this disc:

• Bonusview commentary with director Robert Redford: Commentary accessible via Bonus View and PIP.
• Audio commentary with director Robert Redford: Redford provides insights into the project.
• The Conspirator: The plot to kill Lincoln: Extensive 66-minute documentary.
• The making of The Conspirator: 10-minute featurette with cast and crew interviews.
• The American Film Company: A brief promotional piece.
• Witness history: A collection of 10 informative segments.
  • Witness history introduction: Overview of the film and premise.
  • The conspiracy: Background on the conspiracy, featuring a historian’s insights.
  • Production design: Examination of the film's physical production.
  • Mary Surratt’s Catholicism: Discussion on Surratt's religious background.
  • Costume design: In-depth look at costume creation.
  • Military trial: Exploration of military tribunals relevant to the current era.
  • Props & special effects: Insight into prop master’s work.
  • Frederick Aiken – defense lawyer: Piece on Surratt’s defense attorney.
  • Mary Surratt: guilty or innocent: Examination of Surratt's guilt or innocence.
  • Sentence & execution: Discussion on Mary’s trial outcomes.
• Photo gallery: Collection of stills from the film.
• Theatrical trailer: Original trailer for the movie.
• 2 TV Spots: Promotional television advertisements.

Set against the tumultuous period following President Abraham Lincoln's assassination, "The Conspirator" directed by Robert Redford reveals a gripping yet underexplored corner of American history. The narrative centers on Mary Surratt, portrayed with subtle nuance by Robin Wright, who owned the boarding house where John Wilkes Booth and his associates plotted their heinous acts. Her fate rests precariously in the hands of Frederick Aiken, played by James McAvoy, a fresh-faced lawyer and Union war hero. As the courtroom drama unfolds, the delicately layered script by James D. Solomon veers between Surratt's possible innocence and the prevailing biases of the era, keeping viewers engrossed. However, the film struggles with an emotionally distant character portrayal, especially concerning Aiken, whose motivations and internal conflicts seem inconsistent.

One of the film’s significant achievements lies in its meticulous historical authenticity. The production design effectively resuscitates mid-19th century Washington, D.C., creating a small yet vibrant depiction of a nation grappling with the aftermath of civil strife. The visual brilliance is complemented by Newton Thomas Sigel's cinematography, which frames the period in a stunning, almost daguerreotype quality. Despite these strengths, Redford’s impassioned liberal stance occasionally overextends into contemporary political parallels, rendering figures like Secretary of War Stanton (Kevin Kline) as overly simplistic antiheroes. Nevertheless, these elements underscore pertinent themes about judicial impartiality and the fragility of civil liberties under duress.

The performances in "The Conspirator" considerably elevate its narrative. McAvoy delivers a compelling albeit sometimes petulant portrayal of Aiken, while Tom Wilkinson shines as the sagacious Reverdy Johnson. Though somewhat sidelined, Wright succeeds in conveying a figure shadowed by guilt and tragic martyrdom. The ensemble cast provides depth to the storytelling, despite certain characters appearing one-dimensional. Redford's direction marries aesthetic beauty with structural soundness, although a few jarring flashbacks disrupt the otherwise steady pace. Ultimately, "The Conspirator" offers an evocative lens into civil discord and judicial integrity, framed within a lavishly detailed historical setting.

The Conspirator is certainly a far from perfect film, but in my not so humble opinion it certainly deserves a good deal more acclaim than it received during its initial theatrical exhibition. Meticulously researched (if not so slightly tweaked for dramatic purposes), brilliantly designed and filmed, and mostly well performed, this is a film which casts a much needed light on a long forgotten footnote of one of America's most epochal moments. The film could have used a more visceral approach, which probably would have helped its emotional impact considerably, and its screed-like comparisons to what's going on in today's world will strike those right of center as being ridiculous, but overall this is a compelling and incredibly interesting film despite its flaws. Highly recommended.

The Conspirator Blu-ray release has exceeded expectations, offering an immersive audiovisual experience bolstered by meticulously detailed production values. The historical drama, directed by Robert Redford, benefits from an exceptional transfer that showcases pristine video quality. Color accuracy and contrast levels are outstanding, capturing the period aesthetic with remarkable fidelity. The audio mix is equally impressive, delivering clear dialogue and a dynamic range that enhances the overall viewing experience.

The film’s content remains engaging despite certain criticisms. It delves into the controversial trial of Mary Surratt with a balanced narrative that successfully conveys the tension and intrigue of the post-Civil War era. The performances, including those by Robin Wright and James McAvoy, lend credibility to the historic subject matter, even if some elements appear dramatized for effect. However, the film tends to draw parallels with contemporary issues, which may polarize audiences.

In conclusion, The Conspirator Blu-ray is a commendable package that offers both technical excellence and substantial content. It is an essential addition for aficionados of historical cinema and those intrigued by less explored facets of American history. While the film may not be flawless, its technical presentation on Blu-ray makes it a highly recommended acquisition.