Lincoln

The movie begins in December 1864 and generally concludes by January 31st of 1865.  Based on the book by Doris Kearns Goodwin, this bio of Lincoln details the events surrounding the passage of the 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery.  Though this was a hugely important event, legislation is by its nature boring; the movie fails to overcome that.  Sure, it is interesting to see the behind-the-scence arm-twisting and horse-trading to get votes in Congress but a little can go a long way.  Who would think we would hear the stories of half a dozen Democrats convinced to vote for the amendment?  The movie certainly has its charms.  Lincoln's homespun tales were the best part of the movie, especially the one about George Washington's portrait in a lavatory.  However, at 2 and a half hours, it mostly dragged.  Lincoln had it tough: a mentally-unbalanced wife, an eldest son eager to join the army, a cabinet that was often at odds with him, and a Civil War to boot.

Daniel Day-Lewis was not tall enough for the part and his fellow actors were too tall for their parts.  There were times when the camera angle was such to give the impression that he had great height but then the angle would change and he was near eye to eye.  This was most jarring, for me anyway, when he met with Grant.  Grant was 5 foot 8 inches tall, a full 8 inches shorter than Lincoln.  I am not a Civil War buff and I knew this. Yes, it's nitpicky but Lincoln towered over everyone physically as well as in character.  The complaints about his voice are overblown.  I expected this reedy squeak of a voice, especially considering the excerpts I had heard but he came off fine.

Tommy Lee Jones played Thaddeus Stevens, a leader of the Radical Republicans.  It is funny to see that his radical notions that threaten to derail the amendment are votes for blacks and that blacks are equal to whites.  Clearly, he was a man ahead of his time.  Of course, Jones looks absolutely ludicrous in his black wig, making it hard not to laugh when he first appears.

Sally Field paints a very different picture of Mary Todd Lincoln than is popularly known.  She is not just a crazy neurotic woman, though that is her fate after her husband's assassination.  Here, she is certainly difficult but she is also perceptive and witty.

 

Though interesting and often informative, it is far from gripping.  This is no Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan.  No reason to see this on the big screen.  Wait for the DVD from Netflix.