One of the greatest Historical dramas ever

Rating: Null/10 (27 December 2012)

I'm not a huge fan of Steven Spielberg at all, and I've never made it secret. He's talented yes, but the sentimentality and formulaic mainstream tendencies are always present in every one of his films, to different extents. Lincoln turned out to be a really fantastic film though, and is probably Spielberg's best film since Schindler's List and probably one of the few ones I have ever loved from him.
The reason the film works so well is because it has a really great screenplay at work. Tony Kushner writes this story like a pro, simply said. The dialogue is nearly always riveting, never dry, and is able to inject humor in all of the right places while still clearly defining so many of the characters that weave in and out of the story. It also wisely doesn't go to too many places and instead is clearly focused on one aspect of Lincoln's life and American history in general. Because of that, I would say this is a writers' film more than a directors' one, and in all honesty I am surprised Steven Spielberg chose it. There's not much indication that he's behind the camera, and that's great for me. Instead of feeling like a signature Spielberg film, it still manages to be tightly calculated and touching in all of the right moments because of his restrained directing. In the moments that do aim for something more moving, it feels more honest and doesn't feel hokey. I am incredible grateful for that, especially after the horrid War Horse last year.
The ensemble here is magnificent. Sally Field seemed out of place at first, but I warmed up to her as it went along and her way of playing up the infamous Mary Todd Lincoln. Other great performances include David Straitham, with a gentle and compassionate performance, Gordon Levitt, who I've never liked much but was pretty great here, John Hawkes, Michael Stuhlbarg, James Spader, and Lee Pace among the best. But the film belongs to two men, Day Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones. Lewis is magnificent here, invoking the personality that so many have heard of yet never witnessed. Regardless, it's a different type of performance from the one he played 5 years ago as Daniel Plainview, and because it's simply not as physically or emotionally commanding, it won't be the type of performance everyone can get behind for awards. But he was perfect, and as of now is the best male performance of the year (although I still have a lot to see). Tommy Lee Jones is probably just as fantastic, stealing every scene he is in and injecting a dose of power, warmth, and charisma to everything he touches. I have yet to see most of the actors in contention for Supporting Actor, but I would be ecstatic if Jones wins it because regardless, it's an incredibly compelling performance.
Ultimately, I think even those who aren't fond of Spielberg can enjoy it. He gives material room to breathe and instead of forcing every dose of sentimentality into every frame of certain scenes, he makes the film work beautifully, showcasing the fantastic acting and tight writing. This is highly recommended, and one of the best films of the year, as well as one of the best historical films I've ever seen.