Man prefers history to legends

Rating: 7/10 (10 July 2012)

Many have conceived the combination of biographical drama with the very contemporary and perhaps oxymoronic fantasy genre as the pitfall in this picture. Ironically, this review will probably be an oxymoron to one above or below it terms of its disagreement with this opinion. This unique blend has great substance to feel as if the hybrid film is almost necessary to engage a modern audience to appreciate the life of the 16th US president, as if he could be more valued.
Timur Bekmambetov's piece successfully delivers exactly what the title suggests. We recollect many details in the life of the one of the greatest US presidents, paralleling with the use of literal and allegorical vicious vampire figures to represent the 19th century confederacy. Lincoln's battle against this commences as a quest for retribution, only to evolve into something much bigger than himself; the retaining of core American values.
I find this film to be a masterpiece in some respects. Most notably the editing by William Hoy, whose transitions provide us with quite sensational storytelling, further assisted with an adequate script and admirable performances from a highly respectable cast. Unfortunately however, the telling of the president's two pursuits, overlap as his fight for the abolishment of slavery begins. It appears less emphasised that feels necessary and is more so casually added to the narrative as salt is added to pasta, we know it should be there but head chef Bekmambetov has thrown it in without realising its significance. Nonetheless, the motion picture remains a great spectacle throughout, only until plot holes and moments of..well silliness begin to unfold towards the climax of the feature. Feeling the need to make a face of brief disappointment where I roll my head and say to myself "really?" over the ridiculous and inconceivable mistakes made in production, I remain engaged to see how, what is foremost an enjoyable film, will conclude itself.
As we conclude (both review and film), we return to the narration witnessed during the establishing shot, a technique that contains structure. "History prefers legends to men". While film history will not note this collaboration of genres as legendary, it does metaphorically tell a fictional interpretation of the life a legendary man.