The 13th Amendment

Rating: Null/10 (22 February 2013)

"Lincoln" is not a cradle-to-grave biopic of the arguably most loved and respected president of the US. Rather, it focuses on two parallel events: the Civil War and 13th Amendment of the US Constitution (i.e. the abolition of slavery). The fascinating thing is, at least to the extent of how it is depicted in this movie, their convoluted cause-effect relationships, which just may need advanced Game Theory to unravel.
Quite a few people likened the opening battle scene to that of "Saving Private Ryan", the obvious thought association of director Steven Spielberg. A more appropriate comparison, however, should be through thought association of the lead actor Denial Day-Lewis, to "Gangs of New York". In the opening battle scene of "Lincoln", we don't hear a single gunfire, but instead see close-up hand-to-hand melees.
Dealing with historical events which dictate that he must adhere closely to facts, Spielberg works his usual miracle in creating drama without stooping to melodrama. While never wavering from the main theme of the 13th Amendment, he enriches "Lincoln" with the other macro scenario of the Civil War as well as the micro scenario of the protagonist's family life.
It is in handling the main theme that he excels, having the courage to depict not only the struggle to achieve the noble goal, but also some of the shady strategies such as buying of votes. Whether the end justifies the means is left to the judgment of the audience. The best part is the fight in the House of Representatives, which at times threatens to impersonate a three-ring circus. And the best of this is one climatic and elating scene by Tommy Lee Jones depicting the passionate, fiery abortionist Thaddeus Stevens. With victory tantalizingly within reach, Stevens exercises utmost self-control from making a politically unwise reference to "racial equality", toning it down to a less provocative "equality for all". Under the severest of provocations, he holds his ground, but finds emotion release in an outburst of hurling at his opponents the worst insults allowed in the legislature, exclaiming that the 13th Amendments will give equality even to the lowest scum of the earth, sub-human creature the like of them! For this scene alone, Jones deserves an Oscar. As an aside, all 5 supporting actor nominees this year are already proud owners of an Oscar (lead, support, or both), so there is less pressure in this category for any one of them to win.
Spielberg, as always, does not neglect to let the audience have a glimpse of his lighter side, a mischievous kid that is forever present inside the great director, such as in this movie a quick cut from a crab-shell-crushing hammer to the gavel in the House of Representatives. Another example is when Stevens, after the triumphant passing of the 13th Amendment, "borrows" the original document for one night, taking it home to show his black housekeeper who is for all intent and purpose his wife, a relationship that they dare not reveal. The appreciative companion quips, "it is just impossible for you to take your housekeeper to the House", something to that effect.
The cast and performance are uniformly first-rate. Jones has already been referred to above. Day-Lewis has already swept all of the Best Actor awards announced to-date and will no doubt pick up the Oscar in about 50 hours from the time of this writing. Playing Secretary of State and Lincoln's right-hand-man William Seward is David Strathairn, another Oscar-class character actor (nominated for "Good night, and good luck" although losing to a well-deserved Philip Seymour Hoffman). Sally Field plays Lincoln's wife while rising star Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays his son, the former still grieving the lost of another son to ilness while the latter fervently longing to prove himself my enlisting. There are also Hal Holbrook, John Hawkes ("Teardrop" in "Winter's bone") and many, many other, all solid performances.
Just one more thing I like to mention about this top-notch movie (in addition to Janusz Kaminski's absolutely first-class cinematography, of course): voting before the arrival of secret ballots. The public roll-call procedure, entirely unimaginable today, provides exceedingly entertaining drama in "Lincoln". While in the audience you are reflecting how unfair this is, you are at the same time enjoying the unfolding of the drama of the infinite number of ways with which a member can announce his vote. One even voted yes and immediately changed it to abstain!