"Lincoln" (2012)

“Lincoln” (2012) Review:

Leadership that Transcends Time

It should be noted that Abraham Lincoln is, after Jesus and William Shakespeare, the most written about person ever. And so, after a series of Jesus films (“Passion of the Christ” and “Last Temptation of Christ” to name a few) and Shakespeare (“Shakespeare in Love” and “Anonymous” to name another few) as well as a few recent films on Lincoln (“The Conspirator” (actually about his assassination) and
“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”) it seems only fair that Steven Spielberg throw his hat into the biopic ring and make “Lincoln” (2012) and all the more power to him to do so. In recent years Mr. Spielberg has made a series of historical films such as the unfortunately cliché “Warhorse” (2011), “Saving Private Ryan” (1998), the unfortunately anti-Semitic “Munich” (2005) and “Amistad” (1997), a film also dealing with the American history and our legal system as a series of illegally possessed slaves accidentally wash up on the shores of New England. In short, this film is a logical step in Spielberg’s career, yet is still incredibly ambitious giving this film a distinct advantage in that arena; the film deals with a subject which, on it’s surface, is not entirely accessible. 
The inception of the film came after Mr. Spielberg, who had been searching for a source material from which to base his dream biopic of the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” and decided this was it. That was his source and this came with the caveat of having to direct a film about the passing of the thirteenth amendment. This is a feat, yet it is to Spielberg’s credit that he chose to make a film about democracy in action that so transcended cliché as to become it’s own type of film with a series of problems that followed it like a specter yet which ultimately made the film interesting and novel. 
Contracting the script out to Tony Kushner, the film ran into a slight problem, yet it should be mentioned, it’s only major problem: the film is long. This would normally be fine; I myself have an incredibly long attention span for films, especially for period pieces, except that this film dragged on past what seemed a logical ending, ending ultimately where nearly every film on the life and times of Lincoln ends; with his death. This is fine, yet ultimately makes the film feel long and begs the question, why? Why bother go further than the film’s true story; the passing of the 13th amendment. Perhaps only Mr. Kushner and Mr. Spielberg know, yet the film ultimately feels very long as a result so moviegoer be warned.
If the member of the audience can bother to keep their eyes open as I sincerely hope they do, they will notice the fabulous acting on the screen before them. Intermixed with seemingly direct quotes from the book and speeches by Lincoln himself, the film’s dialogue manages to strike a pose which by most films would seem a bit too pompous, yet in this film works combining large ideas with political scheming. Is the dialogue realistic? No, but who cares! It’s the substance and the meaning imbued in each of the anecdotes that Lincoln delivers throughout the film that speak far louder than any individual line. This is achieved in great part by the work of Daniel Day Lewis who’s Lincoln was absolutely convincing and so real as to beg the question: did Daniel Day Lewis find enough plutonium to fuel the Delorean so he could go back in time to actually visit Lincoln in the flesh? Another question only Spielberg and Kushner have the answer to.
The film’s visual and aural appeal is limited with little in the way of inspired cinematography nor original score begging the question, can Steven Spielberg pleas stop using John Williams to write scores? Yet these are not the film’s ambitions; the film strives to be a character-based drama. Though it should be noted that the film pays incredibly close detail to the small items from 1865 including maps, books, furniture, and clothing which add a real sense of quality to the film and give it a finish that helps to transport the viewer into the era of the Civil War.
Yet one cannot overlook the noble performances of the film’s supporting cast, a star studded affair including Sally Field as the wise yet emotional wreck of Mary Todd Lincoln, David Strathairn as the scheming William Seward, Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens, the aged politician and major proponent of the 13th amendment and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to name a few. And, hell if that’s not impressive enough, the film also features Hal Holbrook, John Hawkes, Jared Harris (of Mad Men fame) and Jackie Earle Haley. Of such quality is the cast that if each one were to receive the proper accolades this review would be twenty thousand words. And ultimately this is the film’s strength. 
When push comes to shove, I don’t know why I liked this movie the more I reflect on it. The film is not hagiography yet it did not entirely work as a story and on many other levels yet ultimately inspired a sense of patriotism that trumped all of the film’s smaller faults. Ultimately this film is a testament to something larger than cinema, Mr. Spielberg’s career or any of the themes in the film and becomes a film about what makes America and democracy so important in history and how wise men have guided this country forwards in times when petty rivalries have seemed to get in the way. In the end, it was incredibly enjoyable, beautifully acted, and informative. Period. And at the end of the day, can anyone ask anything more? 

Stars: 9/10