A prestige production makes this the Best Picture favorite

Rating: 8/10 (28 December 2012)

Spielberg assembles a top quality cast into a first class production dramatizing a key historical moment in U.S. history to create a first- class production that is the Oscar Best Picture film to beat. Oscar noms should also be plentiful among the cast most obviously for Daniel Day Lewis who demonstrates his absolute mastery early on in the film. As the title character, Lewis relates a story in Lincoln slow Midwestern cadence in order to argue a point of law and the audience finds itself identifying and agreeing with point as audiences of Lincoln era would have been swayed by the actual 16th President. James Spader may also see a Best Supporting Nom with a lively portrayal of a fixer called Bilbo whose nefarious activities help to secure the passage of the 13th amendment. Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field contribute gravitas to the proceedings if not actual standout performances. The writing may also pull a few nominations as the 2 1/2 hour running time slides by quickly due nearly entirely to genuine eloquence in the script. Spielberg's cinematography yields history textbook moments particularly of Lincoln horseback reviewing the Civil War battlefields. In short, Lincoln clearly seizes the title of this year's "The King's Speech."