Aylmer to Zazzoo and Beyond: Lincoln

Friday, November 16, 2012

Lincoln - Review

Lincoln
(2012)
Biography | Drama | History
2 hr. 29 min.

Rated: PG-13 Intense Scene of War Violence, Brief Strong Language and Some Images of Carnage: Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+ Read More Grade: C

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Tony Kushner (screenplay), Doris Kearns Goodwin (book) (in part)
Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and David Strathairn | See full cast and crew

Steven Spielberg directs Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln, a revealing drama that focuses on the 16th President's tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come. -- (C) Walt Disney

I expected something remarkable judging from the previews over the past months. I really wanted to like it BUT, it was BORING! BORING!! BORING!!! Had I been watching it at home on TV I would have changed the channel. Of course, Hollywood and the critics are falling all over themselves in praising this film, and we have come to expect something special, of high quality from Steven Spielberg but not so much this time. It was an overproduced, melodramatic, pretentious, pompous, pontificating, costume drama, riddled with awful writing and boorish over acting. The period costumes, makeup and wigs became a distracting entity of their own. Spielberg has been working on this film for about 15 years (originally to star Liam Neeson who along the way became too old for the part) and the film feels like he didn't know when to stop, too much tinkering and tweaking.

Lincoln is not about the president's life in general, from rail splitter to the White House. It is about the last few months of his life, his battle to pass the 13th Amendment and his personal family struggles. Tony Kushner's screenplay, carries a lot of the blame, based on the Doris Kearns Goodwin award-winning book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Rather than a bi-pic it is about political machinations of his administration. Woopie! There is a good deal of profanity including several G** D***s and one F*** and Lincoln tells a lot of 'folksy wisdom' stories including one revolving around a privie and S**t, all of which apparently, misters Kushner and Spielberg felt were absolutely essential in portraying Lincoln's story, it just can't legitimately be done without vulgarity, blasphemy and profanity.

I expected at least a good performance from Daniel Day-Lewis and he certainly looks the part, most of the time, other times the makeup is too obvious. Acting wise he did a good job too...if you think Walter Brennan from the 1957 TV series The Real McCoys would make a good President Lincoln. Sally Fields has become a screeching caricature of herself, over acting like Bette Davis at the end of her career (or should I say most of her career). David Strathairn was as unconvincing as he normally is and you have your standard Hal Holbrook. The only standout in the cast was Tommy Lee Jones and it was only noteworthy in contrast to the lackluster performances surrounding him.

At least they got it right that it was Republican Conservatives that fought for the 13th Amendment, that Democrats including Northeastern Liberal Democrats that opposed the amendment, as well as opposing black suffrage. They also got it right that President Lincoln abused his executive authority and skirted the constitution in order to achieve his goals (something we see over and over again today).

I suppose there is some value to the film but I would have a difficult time recommending it. It is long, slow, tedious and dull.

Plot

Lincoln wants to pass the 13th Amendment against seemingly impossible odds. His republican party is not united and the democrats are united in their opposition. How can he make political deals and strong arm opponents into supporting him, blah blah blah. You know the outcome.