Movie Review: Lincoln

Lincoln

 

By Jeremy Cooper: Layout Editor

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, David Strathairn

Synopsis: When people think of great US presidents, they think of Abraham Lincoln. The film covers the last four months in the life of the Great Emancipator, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, as he attempts to end the Civil War and pass the Thirteenth Amendment, which will rectify slavery. 

Review: As a guy who really enjoys history, I have a soft spot for biopics, even though I will admit only a select few qualify as truly great movies. Lincoln is one of those.

A big reason for this can be attributed to the script. It isn’t an epic Civil War film like the trailers have made out, but is almost entirely dialogue driven. But it’s such well-written dialogue, filled with witty humor and genuinely poignant moments. Just listening to one of Lincoln’s speeches or stories is a captivating scene.

Lead performances are crucial in a biopic, and Daniel Day-Lewis, an actor of incredibly high caliber, goes above and beyond any expectations that anyone could have expected of him. He’s not playing Lincoln, he is Lincoln. While it may not be my absolute favorite performance of his, it’s definitely one of his best and he stands a strong chance of winning a third Oscar.

Another incredible performance that needs to be recognized is Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens, a dogmatic abolitionist and Radical Republican who supports Lincoln. Jones gets some of the funniest and most memorable material in the film, relishes every moment he gets on screen and even holds his own against Day-Lewis in the few scenes they have together.

In addition, the film is filled to the brim with top-notch actors including Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, David Strathairn, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Jackie Earle Haley, Jared Harris and more, all of whom bring their A-game.

My only real complaints would be the beginning and ending scenes. The opening shows a few soldiers, both black and white, praising Lincoln and reciting the Gettysburg Address. This scene felt manipulative, especially since the film is essentially showing us Lincoln the man and not Lincoln the myth. That one bit just felt like it was playing up the myth. The ending shows Lincoln's assassination, which honestly felt unnecessary.

It’s clear that Steven Spielberg is heavily invested in this project, and his affection for the material creates what is easily one of his most powerful and best films in a long time.

Consensus: Led by another staggering performance from Daniel Day-Lewis, an excellent script and one of the best casts of the year, Lincoln succeeds where many recent biopics have failed in crafting a layered, engaging and moving portrait of its iconic subject.

Verdict: 9 out of 10