It’s hard to remember a movie with as much hype as ‘Lincoln.’ Directed by Stephen Spielberg and featuring an all-star cast with Daniel-Day Lewis as President Abraham Lincoln, Tommy Lee Jones as Republican Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Lincoln’s oldest son, the film seemed destined for success. It did not disappoint.
The movie starts towards the end of the American Civil War in the midst of a fierce hand to hand battle scene in a muddy stream. Union and Confederate soldiers savagely beat each other with bayonets, stomp on each other’s faces and cause the sort of havoc that reflects why the Civil War was the bloodiest war in American history. The movie, however, is not based on the battles of the Civil War or on the plights of its soldiers. Its main focus is on Lincoln working with the House of Representatives to pass the 13th amendment banning slavery. Lincoln feared his Emancipation Proclamation, which outlawed slavery, would not stand after the war was over and the gains made for newly freed slaves would be reversed. In retrospect, the amendment seemed inevitable, but at the time many believed the choice was either ending the Civil War or abolishing slavery. Even on the Union side, many preferred the former.
It’s shocking to see how the process of passing such a noble and humane amendment is so messy and corrupt. Filled with shady back-room deals, humorous cases of coercion, and borderline bribery, Spielberg offers us a glimpse of the 19th century legislative procedure. This is why the movie was so exciting despite being void of battle or war scenes after the first five minutes. Your heart is sure to skip a beat as the final vote is taken on the amendment.
The highlight of the film, without a doubt, is the acting and presentation. Daniel-Day Lewis’s masterful presentation of Lincoln’s personality and physical appearance portrays the internal struggles of one of America’s greatest presidents thoroughly. Tommy Lee Jones-playing Congressman Stevens, a staunch supporter of the amendment-adds much needed humor to very tense situations.
The sole fault I could find in the movie was its length. At 2 hours and 30 minutes, some parts of the movie seem to become repetitive and drawn out. But perhaps such a deep topic warrants such a long playtime.
Bottomline: This exciting historical drama with an all-star cast is a must-see.
Watch the official trailer for Lincoln:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiSAbAuLhqs
