Lincoln

Rating: 8/10 (2 December 2012)

This was interesting, but overall, I am not into historical dramas. Unfortunately after the movie, my movie goer partner said, "Oh, I knew you wouldn't like it as soon as I saw Sally Field." That happens to be true. She has been a drama queen since she was an activist (Norma Rae), and her part seems to be cast as drama queen in everything she does since then. She once again played a mean drama queen as Lincoln's wife in the movie; however, her speech to Thaddeus Stevens was witty and most enjoyable. I do not know if Lincoln was a pensive man, but the movie portrayed him as such. I know that his wife was difficult, and the movie correctly portrayed her as such. In all, the movie was filled with older men who had a great deal of prejudices toward all types of people which truly seemed to be the atmosphere of the times. Of the few facts I've checked, the movie seems to be historically accurate (as was suggested in a review I read prior to seeing the movie) which shows the struggle to unite the US through slavery and the intended break up of the states by many including the southern states. I did not, however, feel that it was clear enough about the states' rights issues that Lincoln seemed to quell during this time. It was mentioned, but from the studying I have done of this time period, if the US was to be united, it would take away states' rights, and I believe it was a very significant issue at that time. Lincoln was effectively played, and Tommy Lee Jones aka Thaddeus Stevens was an enjoyable character that added a great deal to the movie. In life, Thaddeus Stevens was the same type of character, and Tommy Lee Jones was a great fit. I anticipate an Academy Award nomination for him as it was excellent and fun to watch his skill. It was, however, shocking to see him come home and take off his wig to a completely hairless, bald head. I was unaware that he had a relationship with an African American housekeeper. That time period was so prejudiced against that type of union and only few dared to do so thought this action (both in life and in the movie) showed his power as few would have attempted to do this during this time. It was again, historically accurate, since his relationship with her housekeeper was real. And to be able to verify the historical accuracy of the movie makes the movie more valuable. I enjoyed seeing that he took the signed bill to her to see which I think showed a great deal of affection in him for her (whether accurate or not)--showing her that her race had finally won their freedom. I found the intrigue and buying off people to be horrible practices that were done during that time with offerings to many for salaried, lifetime jobs for their votes and participation in decision making (though probably not unlike our society today). Two things about the movie were cumbersome: 1) Lincoln's character was so pensive, it was hard to get into his head, and you never really felt like you knew him; and 2) The makeup as a whole looked like pancake makeup with many of the characters having horrible looking "skin" that was aged by makeup too thickly put upon their faces. At times, it was distracting and unappealing. Overall, the movie was a good one, slow at times, but enjoyable for a historical drama. The complexity of language might make the movie less accessible to those who are less educated and to younger movie goers. One cannot really appreciate the lambasting that is done or the ironic innuendos in the movie without an extensive vocabulary.