Tackling a subject so indelibly written in to history, and one so well known is always difficult to bring to the screen. However the story of the last 4 months of Abraham Lincolns life is not just any old history yarn, this is arguably the most important man and moment in the history of America, sending ripples across humanity for all time. So imagine the pressure felt in bringing this particular man to the big screen. It's no secret that this story has been in the back of Steven Spielberg's mind for many long years, and just as Peter Jackson knew long before The Hobbit took shape that Martin Freeman was his Bilbo, Spielberg had for many years known that the only man to fit Lincolns boots was Daniel Day Lewis. You can think of no greater partnership to tackle this important subject in history.
Lincoln covers the end of Abe's life as he sought to cure America of slavery whilst also bringing an end to the civil war. With opposition coming from all corners and a number of votes that must be secured in order to bring about the passing of the 13th amendment. Lincoln shows just how much the 16th president had to fight his corner, support his family and inspire those around him, to accomplish what seems an impossible task.
From the opening scene it is immediately obvious that Lincoln will not spare any detail, like Saving Private Ryan it plunges the viewer briefly into the thick of civil war. As it seeks not only to bring reality to these events, so too it brings reality to its central character through the incomparable Daniel Day Lewis. With no footage nor vocal recordings of the man himself, the take on this well documented individual is inspired and life like. This is no biopic trailing the life of the man from his birth to his infamous death, rather the film throws us straight into the frying pan of a government trying to hasten the end of a bitter civil war. If your history on the American civil war is non existent then the first act of the film will come as a barrage of information that might swamp you. It's advisable to go in with at least a Wiki understanding of what's going down. However for the initiated it will make the events feel real and fresh, coupled with dialogue fizzing all the way through like a Shakespeare play, the casting and the production is note perfect. The first act is the hard sell (for some) but as the plot thickens and you become more settled into events the overriding emotional engine gathers speed in the form of the attempted passing of the 13th amendment, which would put paid to slavery once and for all. The details are beautiful, and reality of the film is undeniably palpable, but to some that means slow and boring. There is a heap of heavy talking here, however it's not all serious. Spats of humour are poised throughout, one particular scene involving Tommy Lee Jone's Thaddeus Stevens confronting a memorably named Alexander Coffroth, had this critic laughing out loud in a very quiet screening.
The big hitters in the cast are obviously those nominated for awards, including the fabulous Sally Field who is incredible in the difficult role of Mary Todd Lincoln. Tommy Lee Jones is also a clear stand out, adding to the emotional complexity and humour of the film. But so many more cast members deserve credit, each performance supported by the strength of the next, compounding into a piece of work that is thoroughly engaging. There are several strands to the story, one focusing on Lincoln himself as he battles to live up to what he said in the Gettysburg address, and keep not only his cabinet, but his family in check. The others deal with gaining yes votes from 'lame duck' representatives in the the Democratic party, which is handled with great comic aplomb by James Spader and his companions, Tim Blake Nelson and John Hawkes. The third strand is the drama played out in the House of Representatives which acts as a roaring furnace, in one seriously well constructed power house of cinematic entertainment.
The cinematography and art direction further supports and realises the story with shots that would look fitting on a wall as art work. Scenes ooze with character so much so you can almost smell the atmosphere of the room or the smoke in air. The score seeks to lift some of the scenes here, but in many cases it actually serves as an obvious marker for emotion which at times is unnecessary. I actually found myself having to concentrate harder on some dialogue scenes as the score begins to soar over bits where it's really not needed. There's a marked effort to honour Abe accurately, and Day Lewis clearly knows his man, from his ease of talking and ability to connect with people, to his posture and mannerisms, there's no denying he embodies this person completely. Yet in a film baring his name, this is no character study that would potentially alienate us from the bigger picture. He does get the last word, however this film perfectly represents not a just a man, but a point in history shared by and effecting many. I thoroughly enjoyed this, so much so I went to see it again and found I got more from it second time round, in fact I'd say it's one of my favourites next to Life Of Pi that ran for best picture in the Oscars. Spielberg has made some seriously amazing films in his time, so many that even the good ones would be far down a top ten of his work, but Lincoln, like Schindlers List or Saving Private Ryan before it sets a new bar and stamp of quality for Spielberg, as he and Daniel Day Lewis will be remembered as the men who brought Lincoln to life on screen.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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