Third grade history and a glamorous 1800's destroy Lincoln

Rating: 7/10 (10 November 2012)

The 1860's were a dark time in American history, there wasn't anything light or happy about. Spielberg decided to make this movie light and happy, in both cinematography/set design, but also in the story. What is presented on screen is non-controversial story, yes it's the truth, but its omitting all of the gritty stuff which could make a movie like this actually interesting, instead of just a costume drama. Films like The Patriot, True Grit and Glory, do a far better job representing the time period then Spielberg's lavish, over the top production. By far the weakest element of Lincoln is the lack of darkness, the lack of realism in how the film was made.
To Spielbergs credit, he is a fast worker, there is nobody in the industry today making big blockbusters anywhere near the speed he is doing it. However, on this film I wish he had slowed down a bit, I wish he had just taken more time to make sure the end product was more realistic. Its great to have a nice set, but if its over-lit, like we're watching a film shot in the 50's, it detracts heavily from the realism. Everything looks to modern in the film like it was made yesterday, even though SOME locations are actually real. They're too polished, everything is to good looking from the actors and costumes to the exterior locations and sets. Someone needed to dirty-up every single set, forcing Spielberg to realize that candles were the only light of the time. Again, because Spielberg works with the same crew day in and day out, all his movies look the same, no matter what time period they're shot in. To me, that is a huge detractor because dealing with the Civil War in Lincoln and World War 1 in War Horse, you'd think the world would be a bit darker and all that happy lighting and set design wouldn't exist. What's humorous to me is, Spielberg has made some dark movies, Saving Private Ryan and Schindler List being two of them. So what was stopping him from making Lincoln in the same way?
Lincoln does have some saving graces; an awesome cast, a very well written script, its edited to perfection and of course Williams score is top notch. You get the impression by watching this film, there are going to be a lot of academy award nods in the acting department and of course a best picture nod because hey, its Spielberg right?
Putting the lack of interesting history and glamorous 1800's aside, Lincoln is an entertaining movie and one has to admit, its well made. Leaving the theater I was disappointed because of what could have been. But it wasn't my movie and Spielberg's vision was clear, his 1800's are bright and glamorous, his Lincoln could do no wrong and the audience is sucked into that world for almost three hours, enjoying every moment of it.