An American Masterpiece that will Never Perish from the Earth

Rating: 10/10 (23 November 2012)

Over the course of his life, Steven Spielberg has graced us with powerful movies like Jaws, ET, The Color Purple, Schindler's List and now Lincoln. A film that's so powerful, so moving and awe-inspiring that it might be his best film since Schindler's List. It tells the story not of a man who has now considered a saint and legendary president, but instead focuses on a offbeat, humorous and somewhat awkward man who helped lead our nation in arguably one of its darkest hrs. First off, what Daniel Day Lewis does in this film is so remarkable and so poignant as he plays Lincoln again not as a "divine" man, but someone who has his flaws like all men but has a passion and belief in something and will fight at all costs to get it done. We observe Lincoln's humor, deal-making and compassion as he fights to get the 13th amendment passed while also bring to end the Civil War with as little bloodshed as possible. However, Day Lewis is matched remarkably by Tommy Lee Jones who is just extraordinary as Thaddeus Stevens who captures all of his zeal and passion in helping blacks get equal rights and Sally Field who really is under appreciated but captures what Mary Todd Lincoln dealt with losing a son, being mocked by politicians and citizens alike yet standing by her husband even though it's hard. Credit also goes out to David Straitharin, Hal Holbrook, Jackie Earle Haley, Joseph-Gordon Levitt who has that remarkable scene with Day Lewis when they're arguing over whether he should go to the army or not, and the rest of this remarkable cast. The cinematography, the music and the set designs all match the 1860's and the scenes where Lincoln clashes w/ his cabinet over the bill is one of the more powerful moments I've seen in a movie in a long time. Tony Kushner's script is on point as he portrays the amendment's passing as a work of compromise, shady dealings and other tactics that match American politics today and the whole fight for the bill really captures how we as Americans are divided as of today over major issues and how we have to fight to appease them before they tear our Union apart. Also the movie's ending is so raw and powerful that I'm sure you'll be like I was in tears of this extraordinary man whose life was cut short before his greatness could be ascertained. This is the best picture of the year and I hope the Academy honors Day Lewis, Field and Jones and Spielberg for their unbelievable achievement. 10/10