Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field
"Lincoln" is a movie which is about just that. A city in the East Midlands. Trains are on average 17 seconds early, and average rainfall stands at roughly 23 inches per year. 6/10. The End.
Just kidding. Spielberg's "Lincoln" is an epic chronicle of the United States' legendary 16th president and his struggle to pass the 13th amendment - to abolish slavery - through a stubborn and predominantly prejudiced House of Representatives. Tommy Lee Jones co-stars as charismatically aggressive pro-abolition Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, and Sally Field delivers a fantastic turn as the equally feisty Mary Todd Lincoln.
For those wondering about the time frame of the film, it's 2hr 36 minute duration encapsulates the week approaching the end of the Civil War, the subsequent ratification of the 13th amendment, right up to Lincoln's assassination (spoilers) ... (oops, too late). As its mammoth runtime might suggest, you do feel its length at times. This is no fault particularly of the script, which is solid - I'd put this down more to the Editor. While watching "Lincoln", you do feel like you could leave in the middle of a scene for ten minutes, come back and miss nothing of exceptional importance. It's like cooking a chicken - it takes forever, but it's still exceptionally satisfactory by the end.
Much like other political dramas of recent years, the film plays out like "Rocky", but with debates instead of boxing. In spite of the fact that the film is set in the backdrop of the bloodiest conflict in American history, there are no overindulgent battle scenes - with characters often only learning news of the war, or arriving on the scene of a battle hours after it's been fought. This film is certainly closer to "Charlie Wilson's War" than, for instance, Braveheart. On that note, the cinematography, costume and set design is fantastic. The framing of 19th century Virginia, while somewhat bleak and dismal looking (much as it is today), has a certain magnetism and appeal to it, which if anything helps emphasise the drama unfolding between the characters. Most notably, Lincoln's increasingly difficult political position: torn between passing the amendment or ending the war, this alongside his own personal conflict over allowing his son (a nigh-cameo appearance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) enlist in the Union army.
Finally, "Lincoln"s key asset, and for which it will almost certainly sweep this year's Oscars, is the sublime performance put in by each and every one of the cast. Easily the most incredible performance of an already excellent career, is that of Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln himself. I have no other words - he just got everything completely spot on. From his somewhat awkward, gangly and hunched posture, with his subtle hand gestures, to his strained yet soft, and disarmingly high-pitched Illinois accent. Day-Lewis completely and perfectly recreates Lincoln's sublime magnetism and charisma that historians celebrate him for. With Day-Lewis' flagship performance, accompanied by an excellent supporting cast, "Lincoln" is without doubt one of the best biopics of recent years. Although yes, you will likely visit the bathroom somewhere in the middle.
9.5/10
