Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Steven Spielberg's Lincoln is a bio-pic that showcases the life and times of the 16th president of the United States of America. This is a film tackled by America’s most iconic director on the country’s most iconic Commander-in-Chief, whose character is brought to life by none other than Daniel Day-Lewis, notably one of the greatest talents the world of films has ever seen. This is a seamlessly written film (Tony Kushner) with top-notch performances. This, by far, is re-telling of history at its best.
Lincoln focuses on the president’s tumultuous final months in office. It explores the insurmountable challenges faced by him to bring to peace a war-ridden country that reeked of racism. While the end of war was highly inevitable, the commander-in-chief aimed at greener pastures. Putting his re-election status in danger and his reputation at stake, he proposed the 13th Amendment, which suggested abolition of slavery as its top priority.
With immense adeptness, director Steven Spielberg avoids over-the-top drama and instead takes the unusual route of subtle and textured story-telling. A film that speaks so much about the Civil War has just one battle sequence where the soldiers indulge in a hand-to-hand combat. Even the way we’re introduced to the main protagonist of the film is quite unusual. One would expect a thumping background score for Lincoln’s introductory shot, instead we’re shown the resilient and stoic character that shook the very foundation of ‘The Great Democracy’, having a casual tete-a-tete with the black soldiers. This off-beat track taken by the director guides the film to a space which isn’t safe for movies like these, but it instead works tremendously well in its favour.
If Spielberg is the magician, then Daniel Day-Lewis is his precious wand. In a towering performance, Day-Lewis humanizes the larger-than-life character of Lincoln. He breathes life into the character like never before. We’ve seen him play such varied roles in his career but this one is by far his best. Watch how he aptly encompasses the life of the president who shaped history; the man of the masses, the charismatic figure. And watch him play the other side of the character which struggles to save his wife from the dangers of depression and lunacy, or keep his son away from the idea of joining war. And do watch him deliver those monologues while he tries to persuade the naysayers and cajole them with his devilish charm and infectious humour. Such performances are truly rare.
It would be unfair not to mention the other prominent pillars that successfully hold this movie together. The supporting cast which comprises of the brilliant Tommy Lee Jones and the admirable Sally Field. Jones plays the character of Thaddeus Stevens who starts off being Lincoln’s biggest obstacle but eventually turns to the good side. Jones exhibits zealousness with precision and has got to deliver some of the of the smartest lines in the film. Field who plays Lincoln’s disturbed but loving wife, lends a certain charm to her character. She’s a pain in the neck to her husband and also the one who reminds him of his umpteen responsibilities at home towards her and his children.
Lincoln is the best kind of bio-pic we'd get to see. It might offer us only a glimpse of a person’s life but it informs and entertains us with a story that could not have been told in a better way than this. This one isn’t just a film; it’s a full-fledged master class. Don’t miss it.
Lincoln focuses on the president’s tumultuous final months in office. It explores the insurmountable challenges faced by him to bring to peace a war-ridden country that reeked of racism. While the end of war was highly inevitable, the commander-in-chief aimed at greener pastures. Putting his re-election status in danger and his reputation at stake, he proposed the 13th Amendment, which suggested abolition of slavery as its top priority.
With immense adeptness, director Steven Spielberg avoids over-the-top drama and instead takes the unusual route of subtle and textured story-telling. A film that speaks so much about the Civil War has just one battle sequence where the soldiers indulge in a hand-to-hand combat. Even the way we’re introduced to the main protagonist of the film is quite unusual. One would expect a thumping background score for Lincoln’s introductory shot, instead we’re shown the resilient and stoic character that shook the very foundation of ‘The Great Democracy’, having a casual tete-a-tete with the black soldiers. This off-beat track taken by the director guides the film to a space which isn’t safe for movies like these, but it instead works tremendously well in its favour.
If Spielberg is the magician, then Daniel Day-Lewis is his precious wand. In a towering performance, Day-Lewis humanizes the larger-than-life character of Lincoln. He breathes life into the character like never before. We’ve seen him play such varied roles in his career but this one is by far his best. Watch how he aptly encompasses the life of the president who shaped history; the man of the masses, the charismatic figure. And watch him play the other side of the character which struggles to save his wife from the dangers of depression and lunacy, or keep his son away from the idea of joining war. And do watch him deliver those monologues while he tries to persuade the naysayers and cajole them with his devilish charm and infectious humour. Such performances are truly rare.
It would be unfair not to mention the other prominent pillars that successfully hold this movie together. The supporting cast which comprises of the brilliant Tommy Lee Jones and the admirable Sally Field. Jones plays the character of Thaddeus Stevens who starts off being Lincoln’s biggest obstacle but eventually turns to the good side. Jones exhibits zealousness with precision and has got to deliver some of the of the smartest lines in the film. Field who plays Lincoln’s disturbed but loving wife, lends a certain charm to her character. She’s a pain in the neck to her husband and also the one who reminds him of his umpteen responsibilities at home towards her and his children.
Lincoln is the best kind of bio-pic we'd get to see. It might offer us only a glimpse of a person’s life but it informs and entertains us with a story that could not have been told in a better way than this. This one isn’t just a film; it’s a full-fledged master class. Don’t miss it.
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