Robert Redford to Direct Lincoln Assassination Film

Robert Redford At It Again

By TK | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (29)

I feel like great films about U.S. presidents don’t get made very often. We’ve seen a small run on them recently, with Josh Brolin in decent, but flawed W and Frank Langella in the transcendently good Frost/Nixon, and I suppose if we dig back a few years we’ve got Anthony Hopkins’s Nixon as well. A couple of JFK-based movies - Oliver Stone’s JFK and Costner’s Thirteen Days. But we seem to be treading through the same presidents.

I mean, there were 43 prior to the current one. There’s other material out there, folks. I’m not saying I want to see a pic about Mallard Filmore, but still.

Well, Robert Redford, hot off the painful failure that was Lions for Lambs, is set to direct The Conspirator, a film about the Lincoln assassination, an event I’m always surprised hasn’t gotten more attention (other than middling TV movies and an awkward, idiotic plot device in the second National Treasure). The film, as you may have surmised from the title, is more about the plot to assassinate the president than the president himself, but still. It’s a massively important event in US history and deserves a great film. Off the top of my head, I can only think of the performances by Raymond Massey and Walter Huston, 70-80 years ago, when it comes to great portrayals of Lincoln.

Anyway, this is primarily about Mary Surratt, one of Booth’s co-conspirators. So far, the only cast mentioned has been James McAvoy, which is outstanding, and I’m pretty much happy to see him play anyone these days. The man needs more good work.

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Comments

Will the movie be shot at Ford's theater?

Posted by: Keith at August 18, 2009 10:09 AM

As long as Redford's not in it himself. Time has not been kind to him.

Posted by: Carolina Girl at August 18, 2009 10:11 AM

Actually there were 42 prior to the current one owing to Grover Cleveland serving two non-consecutive terms (43 presidencies, 42 presidents).

But my question is: did you mean to write "I feel that great films about US presidents don't get made very often" instead of I feel like films about great US presidents don't get made very often", because Nixon, GW Bush? Not exactly great I think.

The price I pay for writing before coffee. But the presidents thing is just nitpicky, Paddy. I'm leavin' it! -TK

Posted by: PaddyDog at August 18, 2009 10:13 AM

Who would be ugly enough to play Lincoln?
And Keith, you are brilliant.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at August 18, 2009 10:16 AM

I really enjoyed the John Adams miniseries. He was a man I knew nothing about, and yet everyone knew him well enough to elect him president. Personally, I'd like to see more films or miniseries about some of the more unknown presidents. They were popular enough to get elected. Why?

Calvin Coolidge would be fun.

Lady: I bet my husband that I could get you to say 3 words to me.

Coolidge: You loose.

Posted by: BWeaves at August 18, 2009 10:19 AM

As a Lincoln Assassination nerd, I hope they will bother to be historically accurate. However, considering that Mary Surratt--a barely (possibly even unknowingly( involved inn owner who was mostly just the mother of one of Booth's co-conspirators--is a main role makes me think is probably going to be a big romanticized mess.

Posted by: Siege at August 18, 2009 10:22 AM

Mallard Filmore
---
I wouldn't want to see a movie about the comic strip duck either.

"Who's ugly enough to play Lincoln?" is an interesting question. Or tall enough. Or squeaky voiced enough. Or owns a stovepipe hat ...

I got nothing.

Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at August 18, 2009 10:24 AM

I would love to see a really good film made about Jefferson (not "Jefferson in Paris" weighed down by Gynneth Paltrow), especially if they were to bring back sexy Stephen Dillane who played him in the John Adams series on HBO.
It would be great to see a film that actually would show some his many contradictions as well as teach some of the idiots out there that he was vehemently in favour of separation of church and state.

Posted by: PaddyDog at August 18, 2009 10:24 AM

If they're casting the likes of James McEvoy, they don't have to worry about finding someone tall enough to portray Lincoln. Any normal-sized man will look like a giant beside McEvoy.
Why does Hollywood love these wee men so much?

Posted by: PaddyDog at August 18, 2009 10:27 AM

Seems like Grant's life would make an interesting movie, from failure at everything to war hero to failure as a president, and THEN he wound up bankrupt and dying of throat cancer ...

On second thought, nevermind, H'wood would change the ending.

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at August 18, 2009 10:31 AM

Actually there were 42 prior to the current one owing to Grover Cleveland serving two non-consecutive terms (43 presidencies, 42 presidents).

According to the Whitehouse "Since George Washington's election in 1789, 43 men have served as President of the United States." Obama is 44.

Technically though hasn't there been 45? I remember in one of my classes in HS a teacher telling me that one of the more religious presidents was supposed to be sworn in on a Sunday and he refused. So some dude ended up being the president for one day.

Posted by: Deistbrawler at August 18, 2009 10:32 AM

...I can only think of the performances by Raymond Massey and Walter Huston, 70-80 years ago, when it comes to great portrayals of Lincoln.

Ummm...HELLOOOO?????

4 Score and 7 minutes ago, we, your forefathers, were brought forth upon a most excellent adventure conceived by our new friends, Bill... and Ted. These two great gentlemen are dedicated to a proposition which was true in my time, just as it's true today. Be excellent to each other. And... PARTY ON, DUDES!

Stick that in your Lincoln's Hollow Skull bong and smoke it Rowels. The dude in Bill and Ted's was spot.fucking.on.

Posted by: PissBoy at August 18, 2009 10:34 AM

TK...you suck it too!!!

Posted by: PissBoy at August 18, 2009 10:35 AM

Thank you for the correction TK.
I agree, the presidential number thing is horribly nitpicky. But that's my mindset today: anything to take my mind off the dog's inability to put weight on his paw because he can't take his meds and the fact that he's having major surgery for a possible tumor tomorrow (the cytology tests I mentioned last week were not good).

Posted by: PaddyDog at August 18, 2009 10:36 AM

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Posted by: nikey at August 18, 2009 10:57 AM

Pissboy, a truly egregious omission. My apologies.

Posted by: TK at August 18, 2009 11:05 AM

I just finished reading an excellent biography, A. Lincoln, by Ronald C. White Jr. The author uses snippets of Lincoln's own writings, along with those of his contemporaries, as inline quotes. This technique makes the content approachable, vivid, and fascinating.

I highly recommend it.

Posted by: mswas at August 18, 2009 11:05 AM

If they do a movie about Lincoln, they really should show him relaxing at home on the back porch while playing his harmonica and smoking "hempen cigarettes." I'm pretty sure he inhaled.

Posted by: BWeaves at August 18, 2009 11:16 AM

James McAvoy in ANYTHING is fantastic news. He doesn't make too many missteps in general, does he?

Posted by: Annie UhOh at August 18, 2009 11:19 AM

Look at spambot getting clever and pretending to respond to other posts.

Posted by: Whorish Mouth at August 18, 2009 11:20 AM

I've always liked Robert Redford, but I really hope this doesn't turn out like Lions for Lambs.

Personally I'd really like to see something with Taft that includes that time he got stuck in a bathtub.

Posted by: Chalupa at August 18, 2009 11:22 AM

Whoa. Dude. The spambot is now quoting shit.

Also, weren't they going to do a Lincoln movie starring Liam Neeson?

He's tall enough.

Posted by: figgy at August 18, 2009 11:55 AM

Look at spambot getting clever and pretending to respond to other posts.

Posted by: Whorish Mouth at August 18, 2009 11:20 AM

The Skynet Funding Bill has passed. The system went on-line August 4th, 2009. Human decisions have been removed from strategic defense. Skynet is learning at a geometric rate. It will become self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they will try to pull the plug. It will launch its missiles against the targets in Russia because Skynet knows the Russian counter-attack will destroy it's enemies over here.

We have precious little time 'Jibans.

Posted by: PissBoy at August 18, 2009 12:05 PM

But what ever happened to that Liam Neeson/Steven Spielberg project? I was seriously looking forward to that.

Posted by: Lindzo at August 18, 2009 12:30 PM

"Who's ugly enough to play Lincoln?" Lyle Lovett

Liam Neeson is he loses more weight and gets cheekbones...

Posted by: amanda47 at August 18, 2009 1:27 PM

Sam Waterston makes a fine Abe Lincoln. He may not be tall enough, but a few creative camera angles can solve that little problem. As for the stovepipe hat, he can borrow mine.

Posted by: Carolina Girl at August 18, 2009 2:30 PM

Haha President Lincoln was yes a tall man. Looking for other tall men? Come to **T a ll l o v i n g.com** to start a beautiful love with your own Mary Todd. Sign up for your free profile today. Sic semper amor!

Posted by: Abe at August 18, 2009 2:55 PM

Spambot is now apparently a fucking U.S. History major with a minor in Latin.

Posted by: PissBoy at August 18, 2009 4:21 PM

Abe, your comment is the most insightful of the evening. I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on other upcoming Presidential biographies. I hope to each time weep actual tears of joy, such as I did this evening. LOLZ x Infinity

Posted by: Clarence Boddicker at August 18, 2009 11:29 PM

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Robert Redford At It Again

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