This isn’t normally what I go to the movies for, which if you’ve read my previous reviews, you could probably guess. It’s not exactly comparable to The Avengers or Ponyo. Still, Lincoln is a damn fine movie. The main thrust of the movie examines Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he pushes to get the 13th amendment through the House of Representatives early in 1865. Mixed with this is marriage strife, caused in part by Robert Todd Lincoln’s (Robin, er, Joseph Gordon-Levitt) desire to join the Union army. Sally Field was excellent as Mary Todd Lincoln, as well.
The scene-stealer for me, was Tommy Lee Jones as Radical Republican Thaddeus Stevens. He had the best lines, thanks in part to the fact that the debates in the House were as much rap battles with put-downs and sly remarks as they were stately debates. You can add James Spader and Tim Blake Nelson to that list of scene-stealing too, as lobbyists employed to try and win over lame-duck Democrats to the Republican side on the amendment.
The Oscar buzz for this film is well-deserved. I could listen to this version of Lincoln tell his stories for hours. Definitely well worth seeing if you are in the mood for some more thoughtful fare before the big summer movie season.
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