REVIEW: Lincoln

Courtesy of Touchstone

There’s a reason few films have been made about Abraham Lincoln. He’s a historical figure who has achieved mythic status. And how would you even begin to tell the story of such a complex man who accomplished so much in his all too short life? A narrative covering everything would require a multi-season HBO series, not a two-hour movie. That’s what makes Lincoln so fascinating. 

Instead of going the traditional biopic route, director Steven Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner have created a story that focuses on the last few months of Lincoln’s life. They filter everything most of us know about the political giant (and a monumental amount that I didn’t) through his effort to abolish slavery with the Thirteenth Amendment. The result is a fascinating, heartfelt and humanizing look at a man who is truly deserving of the legendary status bestowed upon him.

The bulk of conversation about Lincoln will be understandably devoted to Daniel Day-Lewis’ extraordinary work as the title character. A Best Actor nomination is inevitable and a win is likely. Simply writing about his portrayal doesn’t do it justice – the actor goes beyond impersonation into flat-out embodiment. He becomes Lincoln, simple as that.

He transforms his looks, mannerisms, voice and more. And by voice, I don’t mean the reverberating bass we’ve come to expect thanks to Hall of Presidents-style impressions. I’m talking about the high, nasal tone historians have said is closest to how he really sounded. Day-Lewis’ Lincoln is destined to become the definitive version of the man.

I also love how Spielberg and Kushner allow time for viewers to experience Lincoln as a good-natured storyteller. He often got his point across through parables, which tended to change opponents’ minds much faster than ill-tempered rhetoric. Honestly, I could’ve watched a three-hour movie of Lincoln sitting in front of an audience spinning yarns. Day-Lewis is that mesmerizing.

Spielberg, whose subtle touches make this film unlike anything else he’s ever directed, packs every scene with some of the best actors working today. Seriously, look at this list of names: Sally Field, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Julie White, John Hawkes, Jackie Earle Haley, Bruce McGill, Tim Blake Nelson, Jared Harris, Michael Stuhlbarg, Walton Goggins and many more.

Whether in a major role or just a few quick scenes, each actor delivers fantastic work. However, Spader, playing a sleazy operative working for Lincoln under the radar, and Jones, as famed abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens, are the standouts.

Overall, the movie is excellent – one of the year’s best, in fact. I’ve heard a couple of people call it “West Wing: 1865,” which seems like a fitting description since it’s funny, touching and restored my faith in the decency of government (if only for a couple of hours). However, there are some missteps. Sally Field and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (as Lincoln’s wife and son) are fine, but their scenes kill the momentum of the larger political story. I also wish the film had ended just a couple of minutes sooner. Lincoln’s brief comment as he leaves the White House for a fateful night at Ford’s Theatre would have been an absolutely perfect closing statement. Instead, the film rewinds to a speech from earlier in his presidency. Still powerful, but it feels like overkill.

Lincoln is rated PG-13 for an intense scene of war violence, some images of carnage and brief strong language.

Grade: A