Lincoln

His personal politics aside, I was very disappointed with the product Steven Speilberg has been putting out there after the 4th Indiana Jones movie and was wondering if he lost his creative edge. Well, after seeing Lincoln over the weekend, I'm glad to see he has it back!


Lincoln portrays the events in the 16th president's life, leading up to the Congressional vote for the 13th Amendment, which eradicated slavery in the United States. In the film, he explains his legal and moral reasoning as to why he supports its passage and then puts the plan into action, using the LBJ treatment with hesitant Congressmen, while also taking from Andrew Jackson in terms of giving political friends government jobs. It's very interesting to watch the process of government play out and many a viewer, familiar or unfamiliar with the political process, will ask themselves if politics was kinder sport in the 1800s than today. Furthermore, it's also refreshing to see a president with a core set of beliefs who refuses to compromise for political expediency and will possess the resolve needed to lead. Abraham Lincoln is seen as compassionate, yet shrewd; a family man, yet willing to roll up his sleeves to help the United States and its people.

Every actor in this film did a fabulous job from the public/private faces put on by Sally Field as Mary Todd-Lincoln and Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens, yet Daniel Day-Lewis's portrayal of Abraham Lincoln stands out as it was both historically accurate and memorable. I would hope the Academy remembers him when it becomes Oscar time.

Lincoln is a highly recommended film and while it shows a tumultuous time in the history of the United States, it shows the viewer how America became America, and should not be missed!