Lincoln

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, John Hawkes, Jackie Earle Haley, Bruce McGill, Tim Blake Nelson, Jared Harris, David Oyelowo, Dane DeHaan
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
2012

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) struggles to pass the 13th Amendment through the Legislature while trying to bring an end to the Civil War.

Review:

Tim: It feels like I've been waiting to see Steven Spielberg's Lincoln film for a long, long time. I remember when he was talking about it years ago, and Liam Neeson was hoped to star. We finally get the film, although Daniel Day-Lewis steps into the shoes of the most famous American President. Spielberg is such a talented director, and he creates a beautiful, poignant view of Lincoln. This might not be one of Spielberg's very best films, but it is indeed a great movie.

When I think about Lincoln, I remember many aspects of the film vividly. However, brighter than any of those other elements, I remember the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis. It is hard for me to put into words how incredible Day-Lewis is in this film. He doesn't just play Abraham Lincoln, he embodies his spirit, his essence. He is truly remarkable in this film. Lincoln has always been my favorite President, but I never fully appreciated him until seeing this film. Day-Lewis manages to get underneath the legend and breaths life into this person. In this film, we see Lincoln not as this historical figure, but as a man, struggling to do what no one else could. It's almost as if the rest of the movie doesn't matter- what actually happens is secondary to this understanding and appreciation we get for Lincoln. That is a monumental achievement. Daniel Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Actor for this film, the first actor in history to win 3 Best Actor Oscars. That's a stunning achievement, and with this performance, he absolutely deserves to be called one of the all-time greats.

The supporting cast is incredible. Sally Field was tremendous as Mary Todd Lincoln. She has a few scenes that are just so full of emotion that it's amazing to see. I have always liked Field, and I loved how she played this meaty role. I was glad she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Tommy Lee Jones received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, for his exceptionally strong portrayal of Thaddeus Stevens. Jones is such a great actor, and I loved him in this role. I was really glad to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Lincoln, although I wish he had more to do. David Strathairn was very good as William Seward. Strathairn is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood, and I wish he had more screen time. I also liked seeing John Hawkes, Bruce McHill, James Spader, and Jared Harris. Those are all actors I really enjoy, and they worked well here. The cast as a whole is truly tremendous.

I really appreciated the tactic of not making this a true biopic, in that we start with Lincoln's birth and follow his entire life and career. Instead, we pick up late in Lincoln's life- he is already President, has already given the Emancipation Proclamation, and is now looking forward to closing out the Civil War. We are thrown right into the midst of the action. I was struck by how much Lincoln had to deal with. It wasn't just winning the Civil War- he was also dealing with the political fallout of trying to pass an unprecedented Amendment to the Constitution, making slavery illegal for all time. If that wasn't enough, he also struggled with family problems, horrible nightmares, and more. I could not fathom how Lincoln was able to get up in the morning, let alone accomplish what he did. I loved how the film depicted everything he was struggling with, all at the same time.

I have to give Spielberg credit. Everyone knows he is an extremely talented director, so the expectations are always high. And yet, time after time, he delivers. I wouldn't call Lincoln an upper-echelon Spielberg film, but he did craft a beautiful movie here. There were a few moments when the swelling music felt a bit manipulative and the connection with the characters wasn't quite where it needed to be, but it was very close. I didn't exactly love the handling of the Lincoln assassination, either. However, these are minor issues with a great film.

I have to say that I expected good things from Spielberg's Lincoln, and this movie met them. I knew Daniel Day-Lewis was going to be good, but I was unprepared for what a remarkable performance he gave. This is one of my favorite films of 2012.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Glory, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, Munich