every high school student everywhere should see this film

Rating: 9/10 (19 November 2012)

the collaboration between steven spielberg and tony kushner has produced a brilliant film, executed with style and grace. i despair at complaints that this movie is too wordy or too incomplete as a portrait of the 16th president. it wasn't structured as a complete profile; it was meant to take a slice of his beleaguered presidency and visually describe the tone and tenor of the times leading up to the passage of the 13th amendment and to do so through images and narrative.
kushner endows all of the movie's characters with exquisite language; many of the congressional debate scenes are painfully reminiscent, alas, of the caliber of current congressional conversations. It is refreshing to hear intelligent word usage that neither panders or patronizes -- at least in the film.
there are no bad performances in this brilliant film. it should be of particular interest to texans that (Texas native) tommy lee jones' portrayal of thaddeus stevens, vermont republican and head of the powerful ways and means committee, is a strong proponent of racial equality. Texas legislators could take some pointers from his advocacy on behalf of blacks and women.