Lincoln:
The film chronicles the months leading up to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation (Funny enough, the film was released in the weeks leading up to the 150th anniversary of this great day). It is not a chronicle of Lincoln's life. And the film is stronger for it. Lincoln's life is vastly intriguing, but his life wasn't an accomplishment, his accomplishment was the indoctrination of the EP. The film is led by an all-star cast. Daniel Day-Lewis plays President Abraham Lincoln, a role that originally went to Liam Neeson. Now, just gonna say this now, there is a very beloved attraction at Disneyland called Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, which chronicles Lincoln's life and greatest moments. I make sure to visit it at least once every time I visit. Now, that version of Lincoln is very different from how Spielberg and Day-Lewis envision him. He is a big, broad, loud man with almost an importance to the way he moves. Day-Lewis plays him as a quiet, peaceful, somber man who is physically imposing, but not that proud or broad. I believe each interpretation is true to the man, and each are great in their own way. The Disneyland attraction shows the vision of Lincoln, almost as an icon. This shows us the human side of Lincoln. Both have great, but very different voices for Lincoln. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Lincoln very effectively. He and the rest of the cast make this an emotional powerhouse of a film. Lincoln talks at almost a whisper, so when he raises his voice or loses his temper, it's all the more effective. It's great seeing Day-Lewis stretch his bounds, as he usually plays big, broad characters, and recently has played very malicous or destructive characters. (Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York, and Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood) He makes Lincoln an engrossing and intriguing character, and really drives the film. He enjoys a good story and joke, and lifts the sometimes very depressing mood at times. Sally Field plays Mary Todd Lincoln, his infamously mad wife. But, Spielberg shows her as not that crazy. She is a woman on the fringe, and although she loves her husband, she has yet to get over the death of their middle son, Willie. Field gives an emotional and powerful performance, and her relationship with her husband is strange, but altogether very sweet and caring. Tommy Lee Jones plays Thaddeus Stevens, a speaker at many Congressional debates, and an advocate for abolition. He gives a very sympethetic performance, showing Stevens as a near-crippled, emotionally distraught man, he is one of the best characters in the film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Robert Todd Lincoln, Lincoln's eldest son. They have a strained relationship, and Robert longs to join the military. Robert can come off as loving and kind, and then at one point he brushes off a poor man begging him to a deliver a letter to Lincoln, and he basically tells him to piss off, and comes off as an asshole. He doesn't have quite as big a role as he was advertised to have, but altogether, an interesting man. Gulliver McGrath plays Tad, Lincoln's youngest son, who has a good relationship with his father. So (and am I really spoiling anything here?) when Lincoln (spoiler!!!) dies at the end, his reaction is truly heartbreaking. David Straithairn plays Secretary of State William Seward, a smaller, but still powerful role. Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Bad News Bears) plays Confedrate V.P. Alexander H. Stephens, a small role, but still effective, as a pretty racist, but polite, confederate. I believe that Dane DeHaan (Andrew from Chronicle) makes a cameo as a young soldier at the beginning of the film. The muscial score by John Williams (like in War Horse) is forgettable and a little bland (unusual for Williams), but it does very much carry the film, just a little forgettable. Be warned, there are some very brief, but somewhat gruesome moments, especially for PG-13. But, I would not discourage people from seeing it, because I believe it's an important historical film that's true to facts, and I really enjoyed the acting and story. 5/5 stars.
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