Lincoln, released on November 16, revolves around the time period near the end of the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln was just re-elected as President, and he was trying to pass the 13th Amendment, which would abolish slavery. The struggles and triumphs of Lincoln, both personal and political, are what this movie emphasizes. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg, and stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Lincoln is more than just a history documentary; it is a journey into the life and mindset of the president. It begins shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg, as Lincoln is sitting in front of a camp of fighters, congratulating the soldiers on their great effort in the fight. As the movie progressed, Lincoln was revealed to be very human. His struggles regarding the war, his presidency, the 13th Amendment, and tension within his family were all balanced beautifully and given adequate time to develop and play out. The majority of the cast were perfect replications of their historical counterparts, and the cinematography was gorgeous. Anyone can become completely absorbed into the story line of this film, as it relates somewhat to the struggles of today, and the background music does a lot to aid this. I barely noticed the music was there; that is, until it went away.
This is not a typical movie. Most movies that you see involve a good portion of fiction; there is always something made up. A good portion of those movies are great. The difference with Lincoln that often turns people away is that it is a nonfiction tale. However, this does not change the fact that it is a great and entertaining film. You don’t need to be a historian to enjoy the film, but an interest in the time period makes the viewing experience that much richer. Needless to say, it’s not hard to enjoy watching Lincoln.
