‘Lincoln’ Movie Blows Audiences Away, For Good Reason
Shall we stop this bleeding? Of the many lines spoken throughout ‘Lincoln’, none echo more than that particular one. It is in that same breath, however, that it can be said that every line uttered by Daniel Day-Lewis in the film will send chills down into the very marrow of your bones.
Where history is – for many – a boring subject, Steven Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’ is perhaps one of the most interesting adaptations, one of the most fascinating interpretations of one of the most important events in the history of this nation: The passing of the 13th Amendment. Other Civil War-era films stretch over its entire history, focusing on bloodshed and Lincoln’s assassination. ‘Lincoln’, instead, focuses on a length of time spanning only a few months. It focuses largely on fighting not only for bipartisanship, but the ethical and equal treatment of human beings as well. Just as importantly, it focuses on the personal aspects of Lincoln’s life as well – including his relationships with his sons and his wife.
The fact that it centers on Lincoln’s personal relationships with his family and his cabinet, along with his struggles with Congress and his attempts to pass the 13th Amendment are what set this film apart from all other Lincoln films (including the recent ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’, for obvious reasons).
What truly sets this film apart from other historical biopics, though, is the acting. Not only is the film supported by an ensemble cast (Joseph Gordon-Levitt of ‘Inception’, Tommy Lee Jones of ‘Men In Black’, Sally Field of ‘Forrest Gump’, and Jared Harris of ‘Mad Men’, among many, many others), but it is held to inspiring heights by Daniel Day-Lewis, who portrayed Lincoln himself. Day-Lewis, who is known for his extreme method acting – going as far as staying in character even when not filming – brings the President back to life. His portrayal of Lincoln has been the subject of much praise, and rightfully so. Daniel Day-Lewis effectively Lincoln-ated himself to portray the President; the way he walks as a man of Lincoln’s stature might walk, and the way his voice is so gentle – yet commanding – in every scene he appears in. In short, Day-Lewis’ performance as Lincoln demands an amount of believability, and in many instances during the film I was almost certain that I was viewing Abraham Lincoln himself.
In partnership with the extraordinary acting, the suspense that is built over the span of the movie is enough to put anyone on the edge of their seat. The final count of votes for the 13th Amendment was like watching the last few minutes of the Super Bowl if the two competing teams were tied – and when it is revealed, as history had already told everyone in the theater, that the 13th Amendment had been passed and slavery had been effectively abolished…not only did cheers erupt from the film, but they erupted from the many filled seats around me.
For some reason, every movie I’ve seen in the last few weeks (‘Lincoln’, ‘Skyfall’, and even ‘Flight’) has ended with applause from the audience – but none have been more deserving of such applause than ‘Lincoln’.
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