Movie Theater Review: Lincoln

It is through movies that I have gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for history and culture. This is an interest I developed in college, and the two (movies/history) have been somewhat linked ever since. So of course I had my eyes on the production of this epic biography for some time. It's a monumental task to take on a subject as significant as President Abraham Lincoln, one of our nations greatest leaders, and no doubt called for the best in the business.

Over the past 40 years, Steven Spielberg has established himself as the alpha movie director of American cinematic culture. With numerous classics and cultural icons such as Jaws, The Color Purple, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, War Horse, etc. he is the undisputed champion of the film industry. It is therefore why he was best to be selected to direct and produce this film on the final few years of President Lincoln's life. The screenplay was written by Tony Kushner (Angels in America, Munich) and mostly revolved around the political entanglement of passing the 13th Amendment. Finally there was the title role which also called for one of the best in the business, Daniel-Day Lewis. He is arguably one of the best actors in the industry and a master of the period piece such as, My Left Foot, Gangs of New York, and There Will be Blood. Also it helps that his face greatly resembles that of Abraham Lincoln. He was no doubt the best choice for the role, and with such pressure, he truly transformed into this historical giant on the big screen.

The story gives a very insightful view on President Lincoln's leadership, by focusing on the 13th Amendment, the abolishment of slavery. It is mostly set during the final year of Lincoln's Life and the Civil War, in 1865. Lincoln is tore between two major problems at once; ending the civil war, and passing the amendment through Congress. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was passed in 1863, it needed Congressional Approval to be federal law. And while most of the Union Republicans were in favor of the bill, they did not have the necessary 2/3rds margin over the Congressional Democrats who opposed it. President Lincoln had to convince his own cabinet on the importance of passing this bill before the war ended, as well as gathering the votes he needed to pass the bill.

The film demonstrates Lincoln's political genius of getting everything he wants, through great reasoning, passion, compromise, and using every possible method to sway a vote for the sake of the nation (even if it means bribes). He took some major heat when he delayed a peace offering from the Confederate Armies, just so he could push through the bill before the war ended. At the time Congress was divided between a racial ideal of whether African-Americans should be considered equal to white Americans. The bill was headed up by several notable Republican Congressmen, such as Thaddeus Stevens, who eventually proposed to the assembly that at the given time, African Americans should be freed by the law of the land. The amendment won the majority vote on Jan. 31st of 1865 and adopted on December 6th of 1865. Although Lincoln lived to see the victory of the vote, and the union, he was assassinated on April 15th of 1865 and did not get to partake in it's adoption or the country's new direction. However in this film it is clear to see his historical legacy at work by leading the nation through these two great issues of slavery and a civil war.

This film is politics at its best, and gives a very interesting insight to how issues were handled and deliberated in the 1860s. Spielberg, Kushner, and Daniel Day Lewis made for a powerful trio in representing this juicy subject of American history and politics. It also seems quite coincidental that President Obama faces a very similar political entanglement with Congress over a fiscal budget and tax hikes. This film captures the beauty of democracy, and the necessary process of politics. It is a debate over ideals for the common good of the land, whether slavery or the economy, and requires a compromise of take-and-give, which Lincoln seemed to have mastered. I hope this film gets recognized for several Academy Awards, and I also hope Speilberg will eventually produce a film on George Washington. He is no doubt the best man for the job, and has himself become a film legend.