Movie Review: Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln”

Lincoln is a new movie from director Steven Spielberg, slated for a U.S. release on November 16, 2012.  The film is loosely based on the 2005 novel Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  The runtime is 120 minutes and the film is rated PG-13.

As the title of the film so obviously points out, the film is centered on Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) during the final four months of his life in 1865.  The film opens in January of 1865, and tensions in Washington D.C. are running high as the Civil War continues on in its fourth year with little relief in sight.  President Lincoln struggles to garner support for the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would formally abolish slavery in the nation.  His efforts are complicated by the fact that the Confederacy wishes to send envoys to discuss peace terms.  If this fact were to become known in Washington, there would be little motivation for members of Congress to pass the 13th Amendment, as doing so to help end the war would no longer be necessary.  Lincoln and a team of his closest allies must carefully maneuver the politicians of Washington, lingering racism towards African-Americans, and the Confederate envoys in a must-win effort to pass the 13th Amendment and end slavery in the U.S.

The film remains focused chiefly on the politics surrounding the 13th Amendment and only very briefly visits the battlefields of the Civil War.  Those looking for a high-action war movie may be disappointed as most of the film is intense dialogue rather than action.  However, those with an interest in American and/or Civil War history should find this quite interesting.

Daniel-Day Lewis presents an uncanny physical resemblance to the Lincoln we all know from history.  He portrays Lincoln as a man of humble demeanor who enjoys relating personal stories to his peers, yet channels the tenacity of the man known for his rousing speeches.  We also get to see the personal side of Lincoln’s life in his dealings with his wife Mary Todd Lincoln (Sally Field) and his sons Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Tad (Gulliver McGrath).  Sally Field brings the instability and frailty of Mary Todd Lincoln to life in a stupendous performance.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays more of a secondary role as Robert Lincoln.  His role focuses on the conflict between father and son when the President refuses to allow his son to enlist.

The cast includes several other notable performances as well, including David  Strathairnas Secretary of State William Seward, James Spader as W. N. Bilbo, Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens, John Hawkes as Colonel Robert Latham, Jackie Earle Haley as Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens, and Jarred Harris as Ulysses S. Grant.

I suspect this film will be a contender during awards season.  Specifically, Daniel Day-Lewis will likely be a favorite for a Best Actor nominee.  Composer John Williams may be recognized for the score as well.

This film is one that I can see becoming a staple for American History courses in the future.  Most high school courses seem to mention the 13th Amendment and what the passage of it accomplished, but seldom do students get the detail that is shown in this film.