Steven Spielberg's latest movie, 'Lincoln,' isn't a biopic but rather a snapshot of his final year in office. The year is 1865, Lincoln is in his second term and the Confederacy is on its last legs in the final year of the 'War Between the States.' And yet, Lincoln is determined to the point of obsession in getting the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery passed through congress. From the debate floor of the House of Representatives to shady backroom dealings, we get a glimpse of 19th century politics that's not much different from Beltway politics today. Through his Secretary of State William Seward and other intermediaries, Lincoln was not above getting his hands dirty and employing unsavory characters (such as W.N. Bilbo and Robert Latham) to coax, cajole, buy or twist arms to get the twenty Democratic votes he needed for the two-thirds majority to pass the Amendment. Indeed, he even resorted to (gasp!) flat out lying, claiming that he had no knowledge a Confederate delegation (which has been kept waiting) came to sue for peace, so as to deny his democratic opponents cause for postponing the vote. All of a sudden, 'Honest Abe' doesn't seem so fitting a nickname anymore.
Before you rip me, let me just say that I have the highest respect and admiration for good ol' Abe. Lincoln, after all, is a man, with foibles like everyone else. Daniel Day-Lewis gave the performance of his career portraying our sixteenth president, and we really come to see (and believe) what Lincoln really could have been like. He can be a great orator, sure, but not all the time, and he's better at telling stories and anecdotes in more intimate settings. He was stubborn at times and prone to losing his temper. He fought with his wife occasionally, such as over his eldest son's desire to risk his life and join the Union Army. In other words, he was 'human.' Of course, as historical epics go kudos must be given to the fine ensemble cast as well, in particular Tommy Lee Jones as the easily outraged Thaddeus Stevens, David Strathairn as the pragmatic William Sewell, Sally Field as the headstrong and opinionated Mrs. Lincoln, James Spader as the smug and slimy W.N. Bilbo (even the name sounds slippery) and Lee Pace as the smooth-talking Mr. Wood.
Spielberg deftly directed 'Lincoln' with a sure hand and once again brought history to life, much as he did in 'Schindler's List,' 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Amistad' and 'War Horse.' A true auteur whose visionary genius and ability to tell a story through the canvas of the celluloid is second to none, he is proving once again why he may be the greatest director of our generation.
Grade: A
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