Lincoln

 
For almost twenty years, Steven Spielberg tried to bring the life of Abraham Lincoln on the big screen; now, he has succeeded with his sprawling two and a half hour depiction of the last three months of Lincoln's presidency. The first shots of the film are a montage of soldiers being bayoneted and pummeled into the muddy ground as the Civil War is at its peak in January of 1865. However, do not expect a drawn-out battle sequence as in Saving Private Ryan as Spielberg focuses on the nation's divide and bitterness towards Lincoln (Daniel-Day Lewis) as he tries to pass the 13th Amendment, which would abolish slavery. While not sitting with his staff trying to get the pro-slavery Democrats trying to side with him, Lincoln is trying to be a dutiful father and husband to his two surviving sons and his wife, Mary Todd (Sally Field) as she is still in shock over the death of their son, William.

Spielberg reunites with Pulitzer-playwright, Tony Kushner (Angels in America, Munich), as his prose is as eloquent as the history he compresses into his screenplay, which is thanks to the research done by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Think of it as The West Wing set in the 19th Century. Spielberg also reunites with cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski, as his use of shadows and piercing light reflect the period of time as well as act as a metaphor to the divide Lincoln stands between the Union and Confederacy. In addition to the screenplay and cinematography, John Williams' score (minimal compared to his past work) is stripped down and subtle in contrast to the boisterous activity thriving on Capitol Hill throughout the film.  

Lincoln has been portrayed in the past by such leading men as Henry Fonda and Hal Holbrook (who gives a great performance as Preston Blair), yet it is Daniel Day-Lewis' portrayal of the 16th President that stands out as the best. One score and seven years ago, Day-Lewis graced the screen with a canon of roles that cement him as the best actor since Jack Nicholson; from Christy Brown in My Left Foot to Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood. His tenor voice and physical transformation into Abraham Lincoln is amazing as it is audacious.

Next to Day-Lewis, Sally Field shines as Mary Todd Lincoln as she veers in and out of her sanity when she is behind closed doors or anxiously observing the divided members of Congress. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a solid performance as Robert Lincoln, who is portrayed in the film as a historical Biff Lohman; stubborn and rebellious by going against his father's ambitions. Tommy Lee Jones is sensational as Thaddeus Stevens as he gives a tongue-lashing to Congress with such glee and gusto over the passing of the 13th Amendment.

Although Lincoln is not Steven Spielberg's greatest work, it is a visually descriptive look at American politics and humanity as was his 1997 film, Amistad. The story of Lincoln's life is well known, but it is the journey of seeing him at the peak of his presidency and his life depicted by Day-Lewis that makes Lincoln a memorable film.

Three out of Four Stars