Breathtaking!

Rating: 10/10 (12 April 2014)

I had avoided seeing this for several years because I thought it might be hard to keep up with the characters, or maybe it would be too "wordy" to understand. I'm also not a big fan of "period speech".
I was completely wrong! The speech is clear as a bell and completely understandable. After seeing it once, I plan to watch Lincoln again and again to savor every moment and every line. My overwhelming impression is how very similar politics is today to what it was then. Haggling for votes, horse-trading, promising jobs in the new Administration if votes for a particular piece of legislation are delivered. Unrepentant racists, spineless progressives who are afraid to vote their conscience. They existed then and they exist now. And the President is forced to compromise on some issues and press ahead on others which are unpopular to his advisers.
Poor Mary Todd Lincoln, half crazy over the loss of two sons Edward and Willie. She was forced to face tragedy her entire life - truly a tormented soul. Sally Field was fabulous in this role.
This film is so good I literally had goosebumps the entire time. To see our history come to life so beautifully, its simply the best film I have ever seen.