It seems like it’s been underappreciated since it came out Nov. 16, the same day as “Breaking Dawn: Part 2,” but “Lincoln” is definitely worth seeing on the big screen.
“Lincoln” chronicles the events that happened during the six months before President Lincoln was assassinated. The movie’s primary focus is the end of the Civil War and the passage of the 13th amendment, which would abolish slavery. It looks at Lincoln as a leader, but the film also shows what he was like around his family.
No, he’s not a vampire hunter in this one, and no he doesn’t sparkle, but Daniel Day-Lewis’ portrayal of the 16th president is absolutely brilliant. As a matter of fact, each of the actors’ performances, from Sally Fields’ Mary Todd Lincoln to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s portrayal of Lincoln’s son, Robert, is perfect.
This movie, which is based on a book by the same name, took seven years to make and the effort that was put in this film and the attention to detail is evident throughout. Director Steven Spielberg has literally made history come to life. Everything from the president’s shuffling walk to Mary Todd’s nervousness is straight from the records.
Of course, it does help if the viewers know something about the Civil War other than where and when the battles were fought, as the movie doesn’t focus on that so much. Many of the politicians, however, are recognizable and it’s easy to learn about those who seem to be brand new.
There is one small and slightly insignificant criticism I have about this movie: the language. Many times the language is too laid-back or informal. Many characters use language, especially curse words, that sounds too modern to have been around in the 1800s.
It is possible that the script was written this way to show that the president and the politicians didn’t always speak as formally as they do in our textbooks. Which, in that case, is awesome because of the fact that it makes the viewer pause and think, “Did Abe Lincoln actually swear? Was he really this laid-back?”
It seems like “Lincoln” has gotten lost amid “Skyfall” and “Breaking Dawn,” and maybe it isn’t talked about as much because people expect it to be a bitter drama, unlike the adventure found in the other two films. Yes, the movie is a drama, but there are also parts of it that are hilarious. The interactions between Lincoln and his friends and the relationships between opposing politicians, manage to keep the film a little more light-hearted.
They say that laughter is the best medicine, after all.
He’s hailed as one of the greatest presidents America has ever had and this movie definitely does justice to the fact. “Lincoln” is everything a great film should be, and it deserves every star and every award that it will get.
By: Ellie Papadakis