Abraham Lincoln was the president you only thought you knew…
In the new bio-pic LINCOLN, director Steven Spielberg bequeaths a rare humanity upon this nation’s 16th president. Specifically on the last four months of his life which were difficult ones and primarily devoted to his political strategies at the end of the Civil War.
Lincoln’s goal: to ensure that slavery would forever be outlawed and to that end making tough decisions while facing overwhelming opposition.
Here Spielberg delivers a most unique insight into Lincoln’s behind the scenes dealings and struggles on behalf of the 13th amendment, the emancipation proclamation and these UNITED states.
A side of the tall man with the tall top hat we’ve really never seen before.
“We’ve won the war. Now we have to lead us out of it.”
To say that Daniel Day-Lewis really nails Lincoln in this movie would be the ultimate understatement. It’s surely going to earn him a Best Actor nomination.
And to think the role was initially attached to Liam Neeson blows my mind. But then on second thought, Neeson could’ve made a brilliant Lincoln as well.
Let’s not stop at the namesake’s performance. Sally Field in the role of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln—a.k.a. ‘Molly’—is also an exceptional one and offers an intimate insight into this powerful woman behind the man who gave his all to abolish slavery.
Other fine performances include those of Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Lincoln’s elder son Robert Todd, David Strathairn as Secretary of State William Seward, James Spader as the vote recruiting WN Bilba and Tommy Lee Jones (almost over the top) as hyper politicized Thaddeus Stevens.
The movie’s first act includes several very brutal battlefield scenes which in some observers minds should probably have garnered an R-rating for the film. But hey, it’s history. It’s Steven Spielberg. PG-13 it is.
All in all LINCOLN in many ways plays like a stage play performance with plenty of talking heads. But in an impressive way.
You’ll walk away from it feeling good about the shrewd, yet ingenious ways old Abe employed to garner votes and acceptance in his battle for equality—even without ever having been a vampire hunter.
I proclaim 4 out of 5 emancipated fingers for the Walt Disney release of LINCOLN.
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES On Radio / On Cable-TV / On Line.Spielberg Reveals Tumultuous Final Months Of ‘LINCOLN’
Right now I’m getting ready to make a Twinkie run (get ’em before they’re all gone), but if I have any money left over I’ll maybe think about taking in this flick. Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln? Given her age and years of experience on the silver screen, it’s doable I suppose. And no vampires to worry about. That’s even better.
Let’s see:
1. “Schlinder’s List” was rated R. So what’s your point?
2. “Saving Private Ryan” was rated R. So what’s your point?
3. What’s with the pic of Abe the Vampire Hunter?
Shoddy, shoddy, shoddy.
Great flick. Should be mandatory viewing for every school. National critics concensus is in total greement with your review. Spielberg didn’t need Shawn for a quote on this one and baby quote whore is pissed.
We saw “Lincoln” last night at the Westglen and thought it was terrific. Obviously Mr. Edwards didn’t see the same film we did. His partner on Fox4 also disagreed with him on the air. How does this station put up with his crappy reviews?
Needs more vampires.