Spielberg's Commitment to Storytelling Pays Off With a Resonant Film for the Ages

Rating: 10/10 (18 February 2013)

When it comes to ranking a Best Picture for 2012, I cast my vote for "Lincoln." Some complained that the movie should have featured more of the Civil War, but they miss the point. The film masterfully depicts the amazing balancing act performed by the 16th President of the United States as he fought his own battle for the abolition of slavery, a different battle and a separate - though connected - story from the bloody battle that was raging between the North and South. While some may consider it slow, to those who stop and really listen and sit back to appreciate the quality of the acting - particularly by Daniel Day- Lewis - and the impact of the events portrayed, the action unfolding on screen is positively captivating. I couldn't look away. That's not even to mention the tremendous cinematography and perfect sprinkling of humor that beautifully humanizes the characters and lightens the weight of Tony Kushner's screenplay.
Steven Spielberg's technical genius is pushed to the background as he allows the actors to carry the day, which they do in a most admirable way. That decision to forgo much of the technical prowess crowds typically expect from him highlights one of Spielberg's other great strengths: his brilliant devotion to story-telling. He allowed nothing, including his directorial "trademarks," to get in the way of delivering a powerful, dignified, touching, and dramatic portrayal of Lincoln's fight during the last few months of his life.
While Argo has stolen a lot of awards attention by being a crowd-pleaser with the popular face and name of Ben Affleck attached to it, the reality is that it is little more than a glorified popcorn flick. Another cookie-cutter thriller, but the sort that Hollywood loves to give awards to because it is unabashedly patriotic and Hollywood itself is a main character in it. Lincoln is the movie from 2012 that will stand the test of time and be looked back upon years from now as a tremendous achievement.