Lincoln Review

4.5 Stars

Through the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln granted freedom to the slaves in our nation's history as the Civil War continued to divide and threaten to destroy our young country.  Lincoln faced fierce opposition to his declaration and so he set out to make his decision permanent by passing a thirteenth amendment to the Constitution.  Stephen Spielberg directs Daniel Day-Lewis as President Abraham Lincoln in the story of the trials he faced to get that Amendment passed, to bring an end to the Civil War, bring peace to the United States, and bring freedom to the slaves.

Spielberg has struck gold once again with Lincoln. Astounding from start to finish.  I don't know if it's comforting or disturbing to see that our House of Representatives is just as effective now as it was even in the 1860's; however, I wonder what happened to the way our meetings of the Representatives are run.  It looks like it used to be a lot more interesting and entertaining 150 years ago.  I also wonder what happened to our way of speaking and communicating.  It used to be so much more colorful and bold and effective:

Thaddeus Stevens: "How can I hold that all men are created equal when here before me stands stinking the moral carcass of the gentleman from Ohio? . . . You are more reptile than man George, so low and flat that the foot of man is incapable of crushing you."

Thaddeus Stevens:  to Fernando Wood "Some of us breathe oxygen and we find the mephitic fumes of his oratory a lethal challenge to our pulmonary capabilities."

And not only was Lincoln a great orator, he loved to tell stories (seemed to have one for every occasion) and had an amazing sense of humor, which is quite impressive considering all he endured.  While talking to enlisted black soldiers from the north:

 

Private Harold Green: You got springy hair for a white man.
Abraham Lincoln: Yes, I do. My last barber hanged himself. And the one before that. Left me his scissors in his will.

Not once during this masterpiece did I see Daniel Day-Lewis.  He was Abraham Lincoln, flawlessly.  Sally Field made brave and strong choices as Mary Lincoln.  Most people only remember her to be increasingly insane from the death of their firstborn son to the trials and tribulations of being First Lady to the Civil War President of the United States.  Field was able to bring to light a caring, emotional and sharp Mary Lincoln.  Tommy Lee Jones was full of memorable quotes as Lincoln's Vice President Thaddeus Stevens.  Oh to have such smart, determined, effective and quick-witted Vice Presidents as was Stevens!  And James Spader as W. N. Bilbo, attorney, journalist, and cunningly crafty supporter of the Thirteenth Amendment was genius. 

The movie was not action-packed with bloody war scenes like Saving Private Ryan, but this movie was not so much about the Civil War as it was about Lincoln's crusade to pass the Thirteenth Amendment and free the slaves.  And this movie didn't need the action to keep the plot rolling.  It focused on a very specific topic and a very short period in the life of President Lincoln, but it was riveting as a story.  And with perfect performances by every cast member, Spielberg made it feel as though we were actually being given the gift of watching this historic period in our nation's history, rather than watching a movie about it 150 years later.  I give Lincoln 4.5 stars and cannot wait to see it again and own this film that is sure to be front contender at the Oscars.  So what movie will be on my mind next?  We shall see.