Politics, family and war ar
e the 3 themes that accompany the new film Lincoln, which follows one of America’s most recognisable Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, in the final four months of his life. Really though, the film takes place during January 1965 when the President was trying to pass the 13th Amendment in ‘The House’ before quickly fast forwarding in time, with no real acknowledgment of this. Without knowing the history and the facts and dates, it’s very difficult to realise there’s actually been a significant time jump. For a film telling the story of a historic bill, so important in America’s history, an event that would (at it’s time) significantly change it’s future, Lincoln is just a little too quiet. It tries to tell the intimate, personal side of Abraham Lincolns role in the abolition of slavery, while trying to end the Civil War in America. For a film that’s been nominated for an Oscar for ‘Best Film’, that is far from what we received, and even the commanding presence of Daniel Day-Lewis failed to produce the magic he so often brings to the big screen.
The film also rushes by the end of the Civil War and Lincolns death in a way that implies it all happened within days of the Amendment being passed. It would have been nice for more time to be spent, in particular on the war as it would have given the film an added dimension. Regarding Lincoln’s death, in the film it almost implies this tragedy occurs directly following the passing of the amendment and is so mercifully rushed by, leaving unaware (of the history) members of the audience to try and digest what just happened. To build this man up as such a wise, heroic figure (which to so many he was) only to rush by one of the most important moments in his life and history is almost insulting not only to the film but to Abraham Lincoln’s memory.
The film gains a lot of it’s strength from the fantastic cast that supports it, Sally Field as First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, David Strathairn as Vice President William Seward, James Spader as W.N. Bilbo and Tommy Lee Jones giving a marvellous performance as Thaddeus Stevens. Jones gives the stand out performance in the film because although Day-Lewis is as spectacular as ever, (which is to be expected) Tommy Lee Jones goes toe to toe with two time Academy Award winner, which could earn a second Academy Award for himself as Best Supporting Actor, and how deserving he would be of it.
The film has a great cast and a great leader in Steven Spielberg, so it’s hard to decide quite what went wrong. The hype? The high expectations? Or maybe it’s just a personal story to the Americans. The British film tackling the abolition of slavery, Amazing Grace, was wonderfully made, and in part it’s because the history was more well known. To make a good film, however, that shouldn’t be an issue. If the story is good, it should translate well worldwide. Lincoln isn’t a bad film, it just seems to disappoint, spending a lot of time in dark rooms having long, slow conversations with Lincoln telling stories with an anti-climatic ending. Some of the stories could be reminiscent of a grandparent telling a very long winded story while you smile and nod politely only to wonder in your head “when are they going to get to the point?” and this happens a few times in Lincoln.
There were some nice speeches and wonderful dialogue, delivered and performed beautifully by Daniel Day-Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones, but it’s all a little reliant on that at times leaving Lincoln not only one of the most anticipated films of the year, but sadly, one of the most disappointing.
Lincoln is due for release in the UK on the 25th January 2013
Rating: The historic story failed to translate to the big screen (5.5/10)
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