Movie Recommendation

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:40 pm

Just saw The Conspirator yesterday and left the theater impressed. This film focuses on the trial of Mary Surratt and others charged in the Lincoln assassination. I'm a Civil War nut, but admittedly don't know much of the facts surrounding Surratt and her son's relationship with Booth and the others accused. I have to wonder how much was embellished because the military trial she received seemed very unfair. Secretary of War Stanton was portrayed as being on a merciless quest to have all associated hanged so the nation could get on with reconstruction. After doing a little brushing up on the events, it seems not all the facts about Surratt were disclosed, such as her owning property that was a safehouse for Confederate spies. Her son was a courier for the Confederacy and she lied about his whereabouts when questioned.

Regardless of what you think her involvement with the Lincoln kidnap/assassination plot was, this is a good period movie to see. James McAvoy as the young, inexperienced attorney and Robin Wright as Surratt gave great performances.

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:32 pm

Thanks for the heads up! I like movies from that era, haven't really seen a good one since Gettysburg, and before that Glory, so yep I'll watch it, of course I'll wait to rent it and watch it in the comfort of home, lol

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:12 pm

I never tire of watching Glory. That scene on the beach at Ft. Wagner with Col. Shaw and his regiment before they go into battle chokes me up every time.

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:48 pm

I know what you mean! I've probably watched it four times, at least! The kids got it for me for Christmas one year. I never fail to see something that I'd missed all the other times I'd watched it! Have you seen Gettysburg? I'm sure you probably have, another excellant movie.

Yooper · Post by **Yooper** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:21 pm

I've seen the advertisements for The Conspirator, I definitely want to see it. The U.P. isn't the first place that they think of when releasing a new movie, but I'll watch the newspapers, it'll get here eventually.

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:07 am

Loved Gettysburg, and Gods and Generals. If I remember correctly, Jeff Daniels portrayed Maine's Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain, who successfully defended Little Round Top, in both movies. A favorite of mine is Ride With The Devil, because it depicts Quantrill's 1863 raid on nearby Lawrence, KS.

Jeff, I hope it does come to your area soon. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:08 am

Gods and General's, sounds familiar, if it's about the Civil War then I have probably seen it. Yep, you remember correctly, it was Jeff Daniels who portrayed Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain. And my ultimate favorite, Sam Elliott was in it too. I was so enthralled with the movie, I went to the library and got the book! I was expecting this huge tome and was really surprised, it was only about a half an inch thick.

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:28 pm

Gods and Generals mainly centers on Stonewall Jackson's life. I like Sam Elliott too, especially in Tombstone.

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:37 pm

That happens to be another of my favorites! I loved Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. Movie-wise I'm all over the place, lol Independence Day, Last of the Mohicans, Mask (with Cher and Sam Elliott), Braveheart, The Stand and alot more that I can't think of right now.

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:35 pm

Kilmer was excellent as Holliday. I've lived in Kansas most of my life and have never visited Dodge City, where he supposedly practiced dentistry. I have visited his birthplace in Griffin, Georgia, when I lived there for awhile.

Last of the Mohicans - you can't beat Daniel Day-Lewis. He was mesmerizing in Gangs of New York and There Will Be Blood. I understand he's cast as Lincoln in Spielberg's new biopic. Not sure when it's due out, but I won't be missing it.

You can probably tell I'm a movie buff too.

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:55 pm

I didn't get to see Gang's of New York, might check it out. I loved Wes Studi in Last Of The Mohican's, he really looks like what I would imagine a real Indian from back then would have looked like. lol

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:17 pm

He was great in Geronimo also.

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Mon May 02, 2011 9:17 am

Just saw a movie blip about Spielbergs new movie, Sally Fields is going to play Mrs. Lincoln. I like her, and even though she's older then Daniel Day-Lewis, it's a good match! Should be an excellent movie!

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Mon May 02, 2011 7:41 pm

I would have thought Kathy Bates to be perfect for the part, but I'm sure Sally Field will do just fine. And she certainly doesn't look her age. Two Oscar winners headlining and the extremes DDL goes to to portray his characters, this ought to put the film in the running for several Academy Awards.

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Wed May 04, 2011 6:09 pm

And another really good movie to wait for!

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 7:38 am

I haven't heard of the new Lincoln movie. Has it come out yet, or has there been a time frame announced for its release?

I remember in the early 1980's on tv they showed a 5-part series on Lincoln with Hal Holbrook as Lincoln. That makeup! That voice! Was 'The Wonderful World of Disney' on then? I'm thinking it was they who showed it - one episode a week. I taped them.

I also enjoyed "Gore Vidal's Lincoln". They had Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Todd Lincoln. I thought no way is that gonna work. I was real surprised to see she was so good in the role.

You can read the trial of the Lincoln conspirators at http://www.archive.org (or archives.org).

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 11:16 am

I've read it's not due out 'til after the 2012 elections. I think they are filming it now.

I rewatched The Assassination of Jesse James last night. IMO, that movie is a masterpiece with great character studies.

xyjw · Post by **xyjw** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 11:23 pm

I was wondering about The Conspirator, it looked like a good movie. Thanks for the review Kssunflower! I enjoyed the book Manhunt by James L. Swanson because it had newer information and gave quite a bit about Mary Surratt that I wasn't aware of. We were always taught in school that she was a hapless victim of an unfair witch hunt, I had no idea about her son or connections to the people involved in the assassination. The pbs American Experience episode that is based on Swanson's book is online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperie ... ssination/. I'll be looking forward to seeing The Conspirator.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:05 am

I got "The Conspirator" DVD for Christmas. I agree that the actor playing Mary S's lawyer was soooo good (and cute too!). And I thought the actress that played Mary S. was real good. I liked the sets and the lighting. I thought the guy who played Lewis Powell/Paine looked like him. I think this was the first movie on the assassination I've seen that features a scene where Seward is attacked.

In the hanging scene, in real life Lewis Powell yelled out, "Mary Surratt is innocent!" but they skipped it in the movie. I wished it would have been a little longer. I felt as though we hardly got a glimpse of the other conspirators. But I liked this movie very much.

There is another one that is new on "On Demand" on cable that is on TNT or TBS on Lincoln's assassination.

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:23 pm

A real good movie "The Snow Walker" came out a few years ago that I found very interesting. It was written by the same author that wrote "A Whale For The Killing" and "Never Cry Wolfe." It should be on DVD. The ending is rather sad.

-1bigsteve

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:12 am

I need to rent and rewatch it again. I recently saw James McAvoy (the lawyer) in Becoming Jane, a Jane Austen biographical movie, and really enjoyed it.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 6:29 pm

TNT or TBS showed a new movie, "The Day Lincoln was Shot". It's being offered on "On Demand" (on Xfinity/Comcast) for free. I started watching it but didn't get very far when I had to stop it for some reason. Has anybody seen it?

I don't know if it's based on the book of the same name by Jim Bishop or not. That was an excellent book.

SallyG · Post by **SallyG** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 6:48 pm

I THINK I saw it...have to check it out again and make sure.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:41 am

Oops. I'm sorry. I started to watch "The Day Lincoln Was Shot" again, and it is not new. I think it was released in 1998 or something, but it isn't new.

It does look like they tried to base it on Jim Bishop's book of the same name, as the description says it gives minute-by-minute of both Lincoln's and Booth's day. I'm up to the part where Lincoln was just carried to the Peterson house. They must have told the guy who plays Lincoln to act worn out, which he probably was. But it comes off as him being lackluster. It does show Seward, tho the actor is not the thin man shown in photographs of him in real life. I look forward to seeing the rest of it.

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:05 pm

shakiboo wrote:Just saw a movie blip about Spielbergs new movie, Sally Fields is going to play Mrs. Lincoln. I like her, and even though she's older then Daniel Day-Lewis, it's a good match! Should be an excellent movie!

This movie is finally coming out on Nov. 9th. I'm really looking forward to it!

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