"Lincoln" Review

"Lincoln"

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader

 

RATING

9/10

 

For once, I'm actually glad I took history in high school... This period in time couldn't have been more compelling for me. When I first heard "Lincoln" was gonna be directed by Steven Spielberg, I immediately imagined a biographical pic depicting his life story, him being raised as a child and a bunch of overly sentimental moments mixed together with a sappy John Williams score. So, basically, another "War Horse", but the horse is Abraham Lincoln. However, I will confidently say, this movie surprised the hell out of me.

 

"Lincoln" is the story of the president himself shortly into his second term, where he is trying to pass the thirteenth amendment to abolish slavery in America. Meanwhile, the Civil War is still in full effect, and the country is mostly divided on their beliefs and morals. Abraham Lincoln also has some family turmoil when his son returns home and informs his father he does not intend on being a lawyer, but wants to go his own path. So he finds himself at the edge of both his personal and political life as the timer counts down the final months of his life.

 

In all my years as a film buff, I would've never expected a movie about Lincoln to be this compelling and captivating. If anyone can make two and a half hours of talking interesting, it's Spielberg. There's barely any action in the film except for maybe a the first minute or two, but it moves at the pace of a tightly knit thriller with impeccable acting. And by "impeccable", I mean god-like. Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln is just superb. He knocks it out of the park with his performance. Throughout the whole movie, I noticed I never once acknowledged I was watching an actor because Day-Lewis embedded Lincoln's persona and behaviour down to the twitching of his eyebrows. He is truly a master-class actor and his portrayal of the president is a walking, breathing piece of perfection. Also in the cast that blew me away was Tommy Lee Jones, a hot-headed politician with a surprisingly genuine story arc. Every time he was on screen, his presence didn't go unnoticed. He was the scene-stealer here, and I hope he wins plenty of awards for this. With every scene he had dialogue, it was just cynical and moving at the same time. He knows how to take the spotlight. Joining them is a slew of other supporting actors that you may have heard of... Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Lincoln's son who returns to join the Civil War, and even though he's not in a lot of scenes, he always shines with the little time he is given. Sally Field plays Lincoln's wife, and she is a really great actress who not only supports her husband, but pushes his buttons when he steps out of line. It's a pretty humanizing thing to show, especially for a man as legendary as Abraham Lincoln. James Spader is also in this, though it took me a while to really guess who he was beneath all the make-up and weight. He is Lincoln's personal right-hand man in the field who would be glad to run a mile through a bomb field for the president. His loyalty could get him killed, and almost does on one occasion, but you're always rooting for him. There are a few familiar faces spotted here and there, especially from Dane DeHaan and Lukas Haas who have very brief roles but it's great to see young talent getting recognized.

 

The film is paced perfectly, and written with such conviction that it never compromises it's historical nature and diction. Even through it's lengthy running time, I never felt like it dragged or got tired of itself like most bio-pics do. This technically isn't a bio-pic either, as it rather documents the final moments of Lincoln's life and his attempts to pass the amendment to abolish slavery. It's a compelling tale granted you're a bit familiar with the situations and characters, but even if you aren't, the film does a good job of giving you enough background details to work with. Like I said, there's very little action and the vast majority of it is talking... either people discussing what to do next, or the constitution debating the amendment in the House of Parliament, and it all is very engrossing. Spielberg does a bang-up job of keeping the viewer into the story even if it does take a few turns for the preachy, but thankfully never lingers in those moments too long before it becomes hard-hitting. And I'm grateful there's a lack of sentimentality at work here. It grounds the film in reality and gives it much needed authenticity.

 

In the end, "Lincoln" might be Spielberg's best work since "Munich". It's absorbing, ridiculously captivating, features an amazing array of great performances including from Daniel Day-Lewis who dominates every inch of his character, and a tight script that always engages with the audience but never leaves them hanging in confusion. I can understand, some might find it too talky, but for those who stick around and pay attention, it's a rich and rewarding experience. And yes, Lincoln dies.