Review: Lincoln

Let me start this review by setting the table with a few caveats. First off, as a huge history buff, Abraham Lincoln has always been a personal hero of mine. Secondly, I am of the opinion that Daniel Day-Lewis is from a different planet, a planet on which bad acting simply doesn’t exist. To be succinct, I loved this movie before I ever walked into the theatre. The million-dollar question then, is: did Lincoln live up to my unfair expectations? In a word, yes.

While not the epic life story picture or edge-of-your-seat war film that some might expect, Lincoln is satisfying on multiple levels. The dialogue presents itself in a way that reads almost like a stage show. Tony Kushner’s screenplay is compelling and keeps the viewer hanging on to every word. What Lincoln lacks in action it more than makes up for in historical significance, drama, and in many cases, humor.

The shy, but ever-imposing nature of our 16^th Commander in Chief is portrayed beautifully by Day-Lewis (as to be expected), and I believe from here on out it will be his voice you hear when looking at a $5 bill. Everything from the incredible make-up to his clumsy stagger of a walk make you forget that this isn’t 150 year-old footage of the real deal. It is simultaneously eerie and heartwarming to see such a beloved figure come to life so accurately before your eyes. The supporting cast of characters including Sally Field as Mary Todd and Tommy Lee Jones as the radical Thaddeus Stevens add color and depth to their every scene (again, no surprise here). An unexpected surprise did present itself in the form of James Spader and his trio of at-any-cost lobbyists, and they are sure to be audience favorites.

Don’t let the 2 and a half hour run time deter you from experiencing this film in theaters. You will feel the magnitude of what was at hand during the time period depicted, and the parallels between then and our current political climate are hard to miss. Lincoln is a slow-burning and very heavy film, but one that is worth every Abe-faced penny.

Score: 4.5/5