Important piece of filmmaking and DDL is once again swell!!

Rating: 9/10 (2 December 2012)

I could write shorter corny pun-infested movie reviews, but when I get started I'm too lazy to stop; which in no way shape or form is related to a line in the "Lincoln" movie that was "I could write shorter sermons but when I get started I'm too lazy to stop" Relax, I am kidding! Please keep reading and do not impeach this movie review. "Lincoln" is a monumental piece of premier filmmaking and powerful acting that should garner mucho Award love come the season to hand out those premios. Director Steven Spielberg (yea, him) has helmed another classic historical movie that should be highly utilized by secondary school teachers to show to their students in their classrooms. Spielberg focuses the narrative during the time that Lincoln was passionately pursuing the passing of the 13th Amendment which would abolish slavery. Of course, Abe had to go through some intense legislative hurdles including getting votes from Democratic legislators that were more "yay" than "nay" for slavery. Spielberg also presents once more in a film the ravages of war with graphic depictions and human turmoil of the Civil War in "Lincoln"; as he did in "Saving Private Ryan" with World War II and "Schindler's List" with the Holocaust. Steven is the anti-war maestro and may all Gods bless him for that. Screenwriter Tony Kushner should consider a part-time gig teaching U.S. History; because, even though it's filled with legislative jargon as it should be, his scribe was masterful in depicting Abraham Lincoln's pursuit of the 13th Amendment passing. But it's that presidential actor that is most probably the greatest thespian of this generation that was the summit of the movie "Lincoln"; and that would be the stunning performance of the great Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln. I am totally being "honest" when I say Daniel nailed every part of Honest Abe; the voice, the mannerisms, the walk, the passion, the charisma and on and on and on. The Academy will most certainly have a majority vote favoring Mr. Day- Lewis to collect his third Best Actor Oscar. As paramount as it was, I am still in the group that thinks that Joaquin Phoenix's work in "The Master" is still the tops in the Best Actor category for 2012; but not by much compared to Day-Lewis' work. "Lincoln" also had a fine supporting acting cabinet with illustrious supporting performances from Sally Field as First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, James Spader as W.N. Bilbo, David Strathairn as Secretary of State William Seward, and Jared Harris as Ulysses S. Grant. But the top one that should definitely never be abolished from Best Supporting Acting consideration was the whopper performance from Tommy Lee Jones as abolitionist Thaddeus Stephens. As in many Spielberg films, "Lincoln" included premier editing, score, makeup, art direction, and cinematography. "Lincoln" is not my favorite movie of 2012, even though I envision it in my Top 10 list of 2012; however, it is the most important film of 2012. And as Abraham Lincoln states in one of the last scenes of the movie "I would rather stay, but I must go now". So that means I am out of here, but please remember to vote "yay" for "Lincoln". ***** Excellent