Lincoln

By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.25
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Daniel Day Lewis | David Strathairn | Hal Holbrook | James Spader | Joseph Gordon-Levitt | Sally Field

Country: united_states

Year: 2012

Running time: 154

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443272/combined

Diane says: “I am in love with Abraham Lincoln! At least as played by the superlative Daniel Day-Lewis. I feared the Spielbergization of what is already mythic, but Day-Lewis makes the hero of LINCOLN specific, odd, and complicated. The movie could stand to lose some music cues–completely superfluous–and missed a perfectly fine ending. Kudos for casting and costumes. I loved the blocking of (spoiler!) Lincoln’s death bed scene, as his vulnerable body and the bed are bathed in light while surrounded by dark figures–a gorgeous, iconic scene. 4 cats, and I hope D-L gets the O****”

Thom says:  “Certainly not an independent film coming from Spielberg but I’m anxious to learn others’ thoughts. Firstly, I think Spielberg is a vastly overrated director although he certainly has made some excellent films, but this isn’t one of them. Without a doubt the passing of the 13th Amendment (Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime!!!!??) is the single most important of our 27 Amendments along with the 19th Amendment) except to make it dramatic is an impossible task as we already well knew the outcome. I also was distracted by all the name actors playing members of the HOR as I kept trying to ascertain where I’d seen all of them before, although Walton Goggins was welcome as a ‘Redneck’ Representative who switches his vote late in the proceedings. Sally Field was way too histrionic as Mary Todd Lincoln (thank God she didn’t win her 3rd Oscar). One of Lincoln’s sons goes off to War but we’re never told what happens to him. The film is called LINCOLN so I was expecting it to be more representative of his entire life but the film was very focused only on his last few months on earth. Since he opens the film with a bloody, extended Civil War battle scene why did he make the wrong decision in not showing the assassination? Production values flawless. Day-Lewis memorable, as always, but does he really need yet another Oscar? Finally, the fill is a bit too dull. 2.5 cats”

Kyle responds:  “Mr. Bowser, I am happy to take the bait, since LINCOLN is near the top of a long list of 2012 movies that sickened my soul. I am a great admirer of Tony Kushner and believe that his ANGELS IN AMERICA is possibly the finest play of the 20th century. I think he believed he was making clear the complex political and legislative issues surrounding the passage of the 13th Amendment, while at the same time drawing a parallel with the current disastrous Congressional spiritual and political logjam.  But his argument is not developed well, the writing is riddled with cheap sentimentality, audiences grew weary with the political posturing, and largely they simply tuned out. In the matter of Daniel Day-Lewis’s now legendary performance, recipient of just about every award on the face of the earth, I am unable to take a moment of it seriously, since a friend pointed out he is obviously imitating Walter Brennan. Tommy Lee Jones’s Thaddeus Stevens is precisely the kind of terrible acting that garners awards, except in this case, it largely didn’t. Sally Field was lauded for her bravery, but all she does is play Mary Todd Lincoln’s insanity instead of trying to play her sanity. To my thinking, the only person who acquitted himself with clarity and dignity was Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Lincoln; this actor was also the only reason to sit through THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. Most of the cinematic dead ends lead us directly to the chief miscreant, director Steven Spielberg. He is a bad director. If you have the misfortune to sit through WAR HORSE, notice the scene where the enemy soldiers attempt to free the horse from barbed wire and call for more wire cutters, whereupon showers of wire cutters rain down upon them from both sides — more wire cutters than the entire two armies probably had. The audience laughs and is thereby cheapened. A particularly horrifying but cheesy moment in LINCOLN has Robert Lincoln investigating a cart carrying what he thinks are dead bodies but turn out to be arms and legs dripping with gore. Lincoln has at least two endings, which a good director would have avoided. It offers possibly the worst line of the year: ‘Mrs. Lincoln says to remind you you’re going to be late for the theatre, and you still have to pick up Miss Harris and Major Rathburn.’ Everything but ‘And don’t forget to duck!’ I cringe when characters refer portentously to ‘the judgement of history’ — Do people really believe that historical characters talk like that? This is the history movie for people who hate history movies. Some people have no problem with John Williams quoting from Aaron Copland’s ‘Lincoln Portrait’ but I thought it was craven and demeaning. The great critic Pauline Kael used to write that certain terrible movies made her sink down into her seat, muttering obscenities; I know just what she meant.”

Hilary responds:  “You boys are singing my song!

“I felt that I was *supposed* to want to see this movie, due to the subject matter and all the hype around Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance. Were people in doubt of DDL’s acting ability? Really? (Ultimately, I did see only because I tried to see all of the Oscar Best Picture nominees this year.)

“I loved the trio of lobbyists played by John Hawkes, Time Blake Nelson, and the wonderfully bloated and debauched James Spader. What fun! These three, and many other great character actors in this giant cast, were a relief amid a long slog.

“Regarding Spielberg as a director, I’m on the same page as Thom. He can direct, but generally he relies on Hollywood normative heavy-handed methods. MUNICH, for instance, was a legitimately good film until [TOO OLD TO BE A REAL SPOILER, BUT ANYWAY] the last couple minutes when he inter-cut the sex scene with images of the Twin Towers to play to our sentiments and make the connection to more contemporary acts of terrorism, just in case we were to stupid to get it.”

Diane responds:  “A very entertaining discussion–thank you for the laughs. Of course you have to go into a Spielberg movie holding your nose. But I love DDL and his portrayal of Lincoln made me fall in love with that man.

“Thom, the ~Second~ Amendment surely is the greatest! (from what I hear).”

Marilyn responds:  “What I am reading is frustration. I think we all want that really great movie from Spielberg because he does singular pieces in a movie so well and then never quite gets there with a completely whole wonderful film failing differently each time, with some repetition. Knowing his faults by now, maybe if we lower our expectations, and wait, we may just get that seminal movie from him we want. I am going to. wait. for. it.”

Kyle responds: “Thank you, Marilyn, for bringing such a — dare I use the word — ADULT perspective to an argument that has been going on for decades. Although I sometimes think an adult perspective is precisely what is missing from the work of Mr. Spielberg, the public has voted early and often on the matter, which is why his net worth is more than the G.N.P. of many members of the U.N.

“About the only time I recall a room full of adults getting all hot and bothered in argument over a work of Spielberg’s is MUNICH.”

Brett adds:  “Thanks for the discussion on Spielberg. Enjoy reading it.

“My general (mostly sarcastic) rule about a Spielberg film is to find out the runtime of the movie prior to the screening, keep track of the time as the film progresses, and be sure to leave 20-30 minutes before it ends. That formula means you’ve just witnessed one of the finest films of the year.

“No ill will intended. And certainly, I’m being facetious. But try considering some of his films you’ve viewed at some point and you might find an ironic bit of truth to the formula above.”