Does LINCOLN "...belong to the Ages?"

Rating: 8/10 (25 November 2012)

Without a doubt, the acting performances were first-rate. Daniel Day-Lewis was totally immersed in his role as Lincoln, and he portrayed his complex personality and ability to deal with multiple problems masterfully. Performances by Sally Field (Mary Todd Lincoln) and Tommy Lee Jones (Thaddeus Stevens) were wonderful and very dramatic (maybe, too dramatic) as well. There were a couple of times when the movie became tedious, but emotions did reach a crescendo at the movie's end with scenes showing the passage of the 13th amendment that finally abolished slavery, Lincoln's tour of the battlefield and hospitals at Petersburg, and his assassination (although we never actually see it). At times, the back-stabbing politics and personal name-calling seemed to dominate the movie, not Lincoln. I might also question whether some of the dialog used was appropriate for the 1860's (one example was the use of the "f" word). And did Lincoln really slap his son Robert in the face? Also, did I hear Lincoln say "you should call him?" Obviously, there were no phones in 1865. Then at the end of the scene did Lincoln say "remember to call upon him." That's more like it. I also found that the movie did not have that many interactions with Lincoln and his full cabinet, his TEAM OF RIVALS. I thought the movie would be based more on the book. On another "note," the music of John Williams was very fitting, but I would not call it worthy of an Academy Award nomination. He has done better. Yes, this was a very good movie with outstanding performances. But, was it a movie that "belongs to the Ages?" Close, but not quite.