LINCOLN

LINCOLN

Reviewed by Paul Gibbs

GRADE: A+

I am an unabashed, die hard Spielberg fan, so most who know me would expect me to like his latest film. Even more so when you add the fact that I had two childhood heroes: Spielberg, and Abraham Lincoln. So it’s not likely to come as much of a surprise when I say that it will be very difficult for anything to dethrone Lincoln as my pick for best film of 2012 (for the record, I do not always pick Spielberg’s film. Only once in the entire decade of the 2000’s did I pick Spielberg’s film as my #1 (Munich in 2005). But Lincoln is so exceptional on just about every level that it would definitely earns the distinction (barring an end of the year surprise).

            Instead of trying to cover Lincoln’s entire life, Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner have wisely chosen to focus on the final three months of  his presidency. In particular, the passage of the 13^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, solidifying Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, thereby permanently ending slavery. Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) has support from abolitionist Senator Thaddeus Stephens (Tommy Lee Jones), Secretary of State William Seward, and three shady characters (played by James Spader, John Hawkes and Tim Blake Nelson) who they have hired to persuade conservative Republicans and just enough Democrats to get the bill passed.  Most of the film is a rather in depth, procedural look at how this process is accomplished. This is easily the talkiest film of Spielberg’s career, easily surpassing it’s closest cinematic cousin, his 1997 slavery drama Amistad, which was broken up by rousing action scenes, montages and other flourish. Fortunately, Kushner’s screenplay is so full of wit, heart and intelligence that it never ceases to be fascinating.  I will resist the temptation to view it through the lens of today’s politics and ad my thoughts as to who is metaphorically who, though it is a difficult task to do so.

The cast is certainly one of the best Spielberg has ever assembled. Daniel Day-Lewis gives what may be the performance of his legendary career, creating what I believe will come to be known as the definitive portrayal of the 16^th President, bringing him to life so vividly it’s hard to remember there’s an actor in there. As intense and moving as ever, Day-Lewis also creates a character so intensely likable that it reminded me or the classic performances of Tom Hanks than it did Day-Lewis’ most famous roles. From his political shrewdness to his folksy storytelling to his personal struggles, every aspect of Lincoln’s character is portrayed perfectly. It seems an absurd formality to even bother with other nominees for the Best Actor Oscar (even when actors such as Anthony Hopkins and Bradley Cooper have done excellent work this year).  This is THE performance of 2012.

            As if that weren’t enough, the supporting cast shines.  Tommy Lee Jones does some of his best work since his Oscar-winning turn in  The Fugitive, stealing every scene he’s in ass he expertly delivers all of Kushner’s best lines, and moving us greatly with scenes of Stephens' personal life. Sally Field is exceptional as the emotionally fragile Mary Todd Lincoln, perhaps the most challenging role in the film. And James Spader is hilarious as W.N. Bilbo, the most weasely of the “vote-getters”. David Straithairn is excellent as always, and such talented performers as Hal Holbrook, David Oyelowo, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Gloria Reuben also have moments to add greatly to the film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt also contributes yet another strong turn in the small role of Lincoln’s oldest son, Robert.  

            Perhaps Spielberg’s greatest accomplishment as director of the film is to recognize that this is an actor’s movie, and to keep his direction more low-key and unobtrusive than  we’re used to seeing from him. Spielberg has been flirting with doing a performance-based film since 2002’s Catch Me If You Can,  but he’s recently headed back to more visual, director driven fare like War Horse.  The director I perhaps most saw echoed here was the great Milos Forman, who, in his classics Amadeus and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, combined the best elements of the mediums of film and live theatre, and that’s what Spielberg, a cinematic legend who also happens to be a stage enthusiast, has done here. The fact that the film is actor driven shouldn’t leave the false impression that Spielberg’s exquisite eye for framing or fluidity of camera movement is absent. Merely that it takes a backseat to the phenomenal acting this time out. If I were to voice one minor quibble with Spielberg’s direction, it would be that, as he is sometimes wont to do, he has arguably stretched out the denouement longer than strictly necessary (though it will take me further viewing to decide for certain if I feel this way). But, as he has so often done in the past, just when people are beginning to wonder if he’s run out of new tricks, he stretches himself again.

        Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski does gorgeous work with natural lighting, and editor Michael Kahn creates nearly as much excitement and suspense from the scene of the final vote as he did with the feats of Indiana Jones. And of course John Williams’ musical score is first-rate.

So, without even pretending to be impartial, I rank Lincoln as an instant classic, a film that I look forward to seeing again and again until I have it memorized word for word and shot for shot. As someone who feels he has been waiting for this film his whole life, I wasn’t disappointed. This ranks alongside Glory as one of my two favorite Civil War era films, and is hands down my favorite cinematic portrayal of an American President.

Lincoln is rated PG-13 for a battle scene, a graphic recreation of an army hospital, a few harsh words (especially from Spader’s character), and adult themes. While I feel this could have gone either way as a PG-13 or an R, for those more squeamish viewers I submit that it’s easily one of the most inspiring and uplifting films to come along in quite some time, and it worth the disturbing content.