Lincoln: Movie Review

Lincoln: Movie Review

Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Director: Steven Spielberg

It's already received a slew of Screen Actors Guild Awards and Golden Globes nominations, and now it's out on New Zealand cinemas.

Daniel Day-Lewis takes on the role of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America.

Choosing to zero in on the last few months of PotUS' life and set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, it's the story of how he decided he wanted to abolish slavery by passing the 13th Amendment in the US constitution. It's also the tale of the fractures between the Republicans and the Democrats as Lincoln looks to get this bill through - come what may.

Lincoln is like watching a history lesson brought vividly to life before your very eyes.

It's also one which, if you don't have more than a basic grasp of American history, could sail over your head. Occasionally, it's like a somewhat stuffy school lesson as it's quite dialogue heavy and will require you to pay attention over 150 minute running time. This sounds like a couple of criticisms being levelled at the film, and it's not directly; merely, just a warning that this veers more into the worthy but dull territory.

Thankfully, in among a sea of bearded and relatively faceless US officials who swoop in and out of the film at on so many occasions, it's one man's performance which stands head and shoulders above everyone else. Thanks to mightily impressive make up, a scholarly and erudite performance by a soft spoken Day Lewis, you can't help but watch him as the political machinations and extreme talk of deals plays out on the screen. But he also breathes life into a character whose attitude to his rivals was not one of scorn, but one of respecting their viewpoints - and by doing so, it makes Lincoln more of a rounded man than a man doggedly pursuing his own selfish political gains.

While retaining a lot of the backroom politics and information (and by letting it play out naturally as opposed to some quick fix deals), Spielberg's also wisely managed to humanise the man giving the audience outside of America (and outside of those who've studied Lincoln) a vital in road that's needed for the duration of the quite long film.

Lincoln's working toward a resolution of the American Civil Wars as well so that he can stop his son Robert Todd (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) signing up to partake in them. Also, when the key vote is going down on the abolition of slavery, Spielberg shows Lincoln reading to his youngest son. It's these touches which greatly make a relatable figure; a figure so mythical to so many and give the film the softness that it really needs in places. Also the occasional humour from James Spader and John Hawkes as Bilbo and Latham, who lobby for Lincoln's bill brings a much needed laugh to a dour and serious film. Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field also need commendations for their turns as Thaddeus Stevens and Lincoln's wife respectively.

All in all, Lincoln (based on the book Team Of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin) stands by the utterly wonderful character performance of Day Lewis, which anchors this moment in history which defined America - but it's a long road to that in the entire duration of the film. Expect it to a) leave you feeling a slight amount of inadequacy on your knowledge of American history and b) take home some accolades as the awards season begins.

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