Year: 2012
Director: Steven Spielberg
Country: U.S
Language: English
Abraham Lincoln was perhaps the greatest, and most well known, President of the United States of America. Steven Spielberg has been regarded as one of the greatest American film-makers of all time, alongside Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull) and Woody Allen (Annie Hall). So what happens when one of the greatest film-makers of all time makes a movie about one of the greatest presidents of all time? Well, it certainly gets nominated for an Oscar.
Lincoln is set in 1865, as the American Civil War winds inexorably toward conclusion, U.S. president Abraham Lincoln endeavors to achieve passage of the landmark constitutional amendment which will forever ban slavery from the United States. However, his task is a race against time, for peace may come at any time, and if it comes before the amendment is passed, the returning southern states will stop it before it can become law.
I had many expectations about Lincoln before I saw it, none of which were met, though that isn't necessarily bad. The history books describe Abraham Lincoln as a practical down to Earth man from Kentucky. What he lacked in social polish, he certainly made up with his incredible intelligence and vast knowledge regarding the nature of man. Lincoln was completely against slavery, and while some Directors might make Lincoln looks like a saint because of this trait, Spielberg doesn't. His Lincoln has a few flaws, he is not against buying votes and is not above playing by cheap tactics. While one might expect the White House to be seen as some sort of holy place in this film, it is not. Rather it's merely a place where dealing & negotiations happen. It's a place of talk rather than action.
There is great credit to be given to Spielberg, as he makes a film that is enormously set around politics & political discussion. One could easily make Lincoln an melodramatic action film where most of the film Abe yells for freedom. The acting in this film is remarkable, Tommy Lee Jones is incredible as Rep. Thaddeus Stevens, the most powerful abolitionist in the White House. Daniel Day Lewis will surely win an Oscar as the soft-spoken title character. The best performance in this film is Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln, she is almost a stronger character than Lincoln himself!
Of course, Sally Field's character is a cliche that we are starting to see in more and more films. "Every great man has a great woman beside him." It is similar to 2012's Hitchcock in dynamic. This cliche will only continue as it seems Hollywood likes to pander to the female demographic in anyway they can. While most people know of Lincoln, they really only know two things about him: He freed the slaves and he was assassinated in a movie theatre. Unfortunately if you go into the film thinking you'll see a grand assassination scene you will be disappointed, Spielberg left that out.
In conclusion, while Lincoln may be too sentimental & pro-american for some, there is no doubt that this is a well crafted film which takes its politics very seriously. It is a film that sacrifices some entertainment for a somewhat realistic depiction of Lincoln and the world around him. Filled with strong performances and wonderful cinematography, it deserves to be nominated for an Oscar, but I don't see how it will win. 3.5/5
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