A film
review by James Berardinelli for ReelViews.net, on November 17, 2012.
One of
the many, many smart decisions made by director Steven Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner when developing Lincoln
was not to make it a traditional biopic of the 16th U.S. president. Instead,
they confined the main story to a one-month period: January 1865, when it could
be argued that Abraham Lincoln (played by Daniel
Day-Lewis) won his greatest victory. The movie could as easily, and
accurately, have been titled The Battle
for the 13th Amendment. Spielberg shows no need to dramatize Lincoln's life
as a series of greatest hits. The
Gettsyburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation are both referenced but
neither is depicted. The assassination occurs off-screen. However, by showing
the private and public struggle to both free the slaves and end the war, Lincoln paints a powerful and compelling
portrait of the man who has become an icon. We don't need to see more of his
life to understand how rare a figure he was - this window is more than
sufficient.
Lincoln
is rightfully credited with saving the Union. He is regarded as an idealist and
opportunist who accomplished what no other president before him attempted. We
read about him in history books and come away with the impression that he was a
great man without perhaps recognizing all the elements that contributed to his
greatness. Lincoln shows us an
intelligent, folksy person whose greatest assets are his conscience and his
ability to play the game of politics as well as any man. Frequently
underestimated by his opponents, he outwits and outmaneuvers more seasoned
veterans and comes away with a win that alters the course of history. In
between the maneuvers, he takes time to offer parables and tell stories (like
the one about Ethan Allen and the privy). If you're not entirely sure why
Lincoln is universally regarded as one of the greatest U.S. presidents going
into this movie, you'll have no doubts by the time it's over.
Lincoln is part character study and part
period piece political thriller. It's about all the tactics, some of which
would be considered dirty by today's
dubious standards (including, but not limited to, patronage positions as
bribes), employed by Lincoln to forge the bipartisan coalition necessary in the
House of Representatives to pass the 13th Amendment (abolishing slavery). To do
this, he must avoid even a single Republican defection and gain at least 20
votes from Democrats. Initially, the task seems impossible but Lincoln is
relentless in his pursuit of victory. At the same time, he seeks to close out
the war on his terms (meaning that the passage of the 13th Amendment is not a
bargaining chip in discussions with the Confederacy). The desire of his oldest
son, Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt),
to join the army creates tension between Abraham and his wife, Mary (Sally Field).
As
strong as Lincoln is in presenting a
richly detailed portrait of the title character, it is equally effective in
illustrating how the government worked in the 1860s. Those who believe partisan
bitterness is a modern infection need look no further than the Capitol during
the House's discourse about the 13th Amendment to recognize how civil today's
bickering is. Some of the insults hurled by the likes of Thaddeus Stevens (Tommy Lee Jones) would shock and
outrage congressman today. Some things never change, however, like the
under-the-table deals and compromises mandated to avoid gridlock. Also
noteworthy is the ease with which normal citizens once gained access to both
the president and the White House. Lincoln's office has more of the feel of a
saloon backroom than hallowed ground.
The
film's themes are powerful but Lincoln
stands as tall as it does because of a series of amazing performances, none
more towering than that of Daniel Day-Lewis. It doesn't take a crystal ball to
prognosticate that not only will Day-Lewis garner an Oscar nomination for his
work here, but he will probably win. Even with as impressive a resume as his is
(which already includes Best Actor citations for My Left Foot and There Will
Be Blood), this is a career performance. Actors have won top honors for far
less riveting portrayals. Day-Lewis doesn't just play Lincoln; he inhabits him.
It's as remarkable a clinic of acting as I have seen - far, far beyond mere
mimicry. The physical resemblance doesn't hurt, but this isn't a case of
Day-Lewis looking like President #16 - it's a case of his becoming him.
Impressive
secondary performances abound as well, and there will be Oscar nominations as
well in supporting categories. Sally Field, as Lincoln's unstable wife, stands
a good chance, as does Tommy Lee Jones as the fiery, passionate Thaddeus
Stevens. Additional possibilities include Hal
Holbrook as Preston Blair and David
Strathairn as Secretary of State Seward (although Strathairn's fine
portrayal may be too understated for the Academy to recognize). There are other
recognizable names in the cast as well, including James Spader, John Hawkes,
and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whose 2012 resume is astonishing in its versatility.
For
Spielberg, this represents a welcome return to form, and a reaffirmation that
he remains capable of accomplishing remarkable things on a movie screen. After
last year's twin disappointments of The
Adventures of Tintin and War Horse,
it's refreshing to see Spielberg rebound. Lincoln
is perhaps not quite on the same level as Saving
Private Ryan or Schindler's List,
but it can stand alongside any of the other serious
films the great director has made.
History-based
movies need not be history lessons but the best of them, like Lincoln, bring the past vividly to life.
Over the years, I have read countless books about Lincoln's presidency and The
Civil War, but there were things in Lincoln
of which I was unaware. More importantly, at no time have I felt as close to the
real-life figure as I did while watching Spielberg's movie: not when standing
at the base of his statue in the Lincoln Memorial, not when gazing up at the
President's Box in Ford's Theater, and not when immersed in any book, TV
program, or movie. If Abraham Lincoln:
Vampire Hunter left behind a vaguely unpalatable aftertaste, Lincoln is the perfect solution with
which to wash it away.
Labels:
biography, drama, history, period, war
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