Deus Ex Machina

Rating: 8/10 (28 November 2012)

This could easily work as a staged play. That was my immediate thought at some point during the opening scene in which Lincoln's oratory motivations/inspirations are espoused by first, a "colored" Union soldier, then a white one. And, for me, the movie continues in the same vein. Lincoln displays a grandfatherly wisdom and a "god of the machine" quality where the wheels of Washington spin in just the right fashion, just in time for history to be forever made. It was very well done.
After doing some rough Wikipedia research, it was very well cast in the physical ways that neatly match every other important casting choice. Of course, the lead actors were very good (who really ever wonders how precise and involved a Daniel Day Lewis performance will be?). My next favorite actor was David Straithairn (portraying Sec of State Seward), who I have loved since I saw him in HBO's Lost in Yonkers. If I ever saw anyone get an Academy Award out of the whole movie, it would DEFINITELY be him!!! I thought the actors that played Lincoln's two sons were standouts (one of which was Joseph Gordon-Levitt: star rising); the younger one I don't know by name but his first appearance was memorable instantly, as much as DDL's young co-star in "There Will Be Blood" was (which is impressive given how BIG an actor he is). Honorable mentions go to Jackie Earle Haley as the VP of the Confederacy, the actor I know as Gail from Breaking Bad as an abolitionist House rep, and Walton Goggins, whose role was quite different from the things I've seen him do lately.
I was more emotional than I knew I'd be, but for different reasons than I thought. I will certainly be reading the book "Team of Rivals", the movie's inspiring source material. The movie also makes one curious about Lincoln's recorded speeches, because he was very good at it -- and Daniel Day Lewis' Lincoln surely gives them life. After seven score and seven years, we're still analyzing his words and deeds -- he really does belong to the ages!