Remarkable times produce remarkable men, sometimes

Rating: 10/10 (15 December 2012)

If only. That's what I felt leaving the theater, if only Lincoln had lived, if only we had a Lincoln during Vietnam, if only we had a Lincoln today. We always live in remarkable times, only most of the time we have unremarkable men and women leading us. So much deserved praise has been written about this film - the acting, the music, the cinematography, the costumes, the screenplay, and more - that I thought I'd mention another aspect of Spielberg's genius, his talent for directing fine actors in small roles. In most film with big stars, the camera stays on the central character and everyone else is window dressing, little more than moving mannequins. In "Lincoln", in scenes crowded with actors, the performances are choreographed brilliantly. Take Bruce McGill's portrayal of Edwin Stanton. He captures Stanton perfectly, and does it mostly with facial expressions and his posture. Hawkes' Latham. Nelson's Schell. McRobbie's Pendleton. I wish there was a special Oscar given to Spielberg for ensemble direction, only Scorsese rivals him. Day-Lewis, Obama, and Lincoln at the time of the passage of the 13th amendment, are all basically the same age. I imagine this gives Day-Lewis great insight into Lincoln's commanding presence, his mastery of men. He plays Lincoln, he is playing Obama, he is also playing himself.