Is 'Lincoln', Steven Speilberg's best film to date? Yes, in my opinion. I'll even go as far to say, the film is must-see! Whether one has an interest in history, film, politics, Abraham Lincoln, Steven Speilberg or good acting, 'Lincoln' has something for just about any movie-goer. You know a film is excellent, when you walk into the theater knowing the ending and still find yourself riveted two and a half hours later. Yet that's exactly what this film does.
Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln, James Spader as lobbyist W. N. Bilbo and Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens, put on an acting clinic. Actually the performances of the entire cast are some of the best i've ever seen. For sure, Lewis, Field and Jones will be Oscar nominated, with at least one if not all, winning Oscar.
The Lincoln family dynamic as portrayed by Daniel Day- Lewis, Sally Field and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the eldest son Robert Lincoln, was remarkable. An admitted history buff, the relationship between Abe and Mary Todd has always intrigued me. The actors with Speilberg's direction, took us behind the closed doors of this complex relationship, and what a view. For instance, notice this clip:
In reality, the film is all about human nature. What does, how does one play the cards, play the hand that life has dealt them? Or is it that life has dealt us all a hand or do we choose the hand we play? Additionally, the curtain is pulled back on the democratic process or in other words human nature with free will and courage or lack thereof as part of the mix. This film based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book 'Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln', shows us all the intricacies of human nature, while dealing with war, bloodshed, wanton violence and oppression. In some ways, 1865 feels similar to 2012.
'Lincoln' is a showcase of excellence, one i won't soon forget!
