It was way back in 1999 that Steven Spielberg first expressed an interest in bringing the story of Abraham Lincoln to the big screen, using Doris Kearns Goodwin's biography A Team Of Rivals: The Political Genius Of Abraham Lincoln as it's basis. Over the course of the next 14 years, the project stopped and started, with numerous rewrites and a succession of actors linked with the title role, including Liam Neeson. Now the director's labour of love finally reaches these shores, and I have got to say it was worth the wait.
The film covers the last four months of the presidents life, giving us a glimpse of his private life as he struggles to have the Thirteenth Amendment to the American Constitution, one that would abolish slavery, passed into law. The American Civil War is a major part of this film, always alluded to, and the motivation behind several of the characters, but very rarely seen. It's the political side of the war Spielberg is interested in, full of intrigue and skulduggery, and he does his best to present it in a way that is engaging and doesn't outstay it's welcome. The story moves at a deliberate pace, setting up what is at stake right off the bat with a beautiful scene of Lincoln talking to the soldiers fighting in his name. We are fed everything we need to know it the first 20 minutes, then the audience is let inside the skin of these characters, so we see everything, the good and the bad. There is no doubt this a film of heavy drama, but every so often there is flashes of humour that serves as a nice pallet cleanser amongst all the political talks. The film mainly comes down to scenes of men talking in hushed tones in darkened rooms, or sniping at each other across crowded meeting rooms. On paper they don't sound that interesting, but on screen they fizz with a great energy, and immediately grab your attention. The House Of Representative scenes are the stand out, with the Republicans and Democrats (sporting a fine selection of every style of facial hair you can think of) engaged in verbose mud slinging that really gives the fantastic script a chance to shine. Outside of these scenes, the story falters slightly. While the relationship between Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his wife, Mary (Sally Field) is fleshed out nicely, the scenes between the president and his son Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) fall flat. A sub plot about Robert's insistence of joining the war effort feels hollow, and the resolution doesn't ring through.
Across the board, the acting is superb. From the small parts, especially Lee Pace and James Spader who really impress with the short time they are given, to the supporting roles to Daniel Day-Lewis, everyone brings their A-Game. Tommy Lee Jones is his usual gruff self as radical abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens, but he brings a real sense of humanity to the role, and the resolution to his particular story is heart warming. Sally Field is also impressive, presenting a woman who can go toe to toe with Lincoln, matching him word for word. But this is Day-Lewis's show. He totally inhabits the role, coming across as old and frail, and someone brimming with great power all at once. He commands the attention of everyone whenever he is on the screen, delivering one of the best roles of his career.
A superbly written and acted piece of cinema, Lincoln grabs you from the opening scene and doesn't let go till the end. A must watch!
The film covers the last four months of the presidents life, giving us a glimpse of his private life as he struggles to have the Thirteenth Amendment to the American Constitution, one that would abolish slavery, passed into law. The American Civil War is a major part of this film, always alluded to, and the motivation behind several of the characters, but very rarely seen. It's the political side of the war Spielberg is interested in, full of intrigue and skulduggery, and he does his best to present it in a way that is engaging and doesn't outstay it's welcome. The story moves at a deliberate pace, setting up what is at stake right off the bat with a beautiful scene of Lincoln talking to the soldiers fighting in his name. We are fed everything we need to know it the first 20 minutes, then the audience is let inside the skin of these characters, so we see everything, the good and the bad. There is no doubt this a film of heavy drama, but every so often there is flashes of humour that serves as a nice pallet cleanser amongst all the political talks. The film mainly comes down to scenes of men talking in hushed tones in darkened rooms, or sniping at each other across crowded meeting rooms. On paper they don't sound that interesting, but on screen they fizz with a great energy, and immediately grab your attention. The House Of Representative scenes are the stand out, with the Republicans and Democrats (sporting a fine selection of every style of facial hair you can think of) engaged in verbose mud slinging that really gives the fantastic script a chance to shine. Outside of these scenes, the story falters slightly. While the relationship between Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his wife, Mary (Sally Field) is fleshed out nicely, the scenes between the president and his son Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) fall flat. A sub plot about Robert's insistence of joining the war effort feels hollow, and the resolution doesn't ring through.
Across the board, the acting is superb. From the small parts, especially Lee Pace and James Spader who really impress with the short time they are given, to the supporting roles to Daniel Day-Lewis, everyone brings their A-Game. Tommy Lee Jones is his usual gruff self as radical abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens, but he brings a real sense of humanity to the role, and the resolution to his particular story is heart warming. Sally Field is also impressive, presenting a woman who can go toe to toe with Lincoln, matching him word for word. But this is Day-Lewis's show. He totally inhabits the role, coming across as old and frail, and someone brimming with great power all at once. He commands the attention of everyone whenever he is on the screen, delivering one of the best roles of his career.
A superbly written and acted piece of cinema, Lincoln grabs you from the opening scene and doesn't let go till the end. A must watch!
