Wait. They Forgot the Vampires!

Rating: 8/10 (6 January 2013)

How is it that Daniel Day-Lewis isn't one of my favorite actors?
He was brilliant in There Will Be Blood. He elevated that movie from a very good movie to a great one. He did the same for Lincoln.
If you don't believe him as the 16th President or as someone who cared more about everyone being equal or as someone who wanted the bloodshed over during the Civil War, then, I'm sorry, you're blind.
The movie, Lincoln, is not only Director Steven Spielberg's return to greatness, it's a very sad statement that after over 150 years, very little has changed. Of course, aside from the Republican/Democrat political change-over, it's the same back then as it is today. Heated debates, strong views and uncompromising votes still plague us today as it did back then. Mercifully, we had pure-at-heart Lincoln to do all he can for the better of all mankind.
Yes, the movie is slow. Sure, it's riddled with heavy dialogue most of us, including myself, couldn't understand. And it contains just as many characters I could possibly keep up with (or learn about) as about three times the number of Dwarfs in The Hobbit. It didn't matter, to me. The movie was so elegantly made, so beautifully shot, I was enthralled so much I trusted everything they presented to me as truth of what really happened back then.
As long as Lincoln was alive, all that he did, learned and accomplished was not highlighted here in this film. The movie focuses on Abe's plight to ensure the 13th amendment gets passed so that both the Civil War ceases and that all slaves are set free.
I absolutely loved his intelligence, his compassion and his drive to ensure his vision of where we should be gets accomplished. He knew the game, the political one. He knew how to play everyone like chess pieces, but that didn't mean it would come out right. He took chances, sweated long and hard and without showing it, I know he prayed as hard as he could to make sure the just way prevails.
You cannot help but look up to this man. It's sad to say, but he was so ahead of his time, his views still aren't completely felt today. Maybemake that, hopefullysomeday soon, all humans will be treated equally. I pray to God that happens in my lifetime.
If I can get all this out of a movie, I know it was done right. It was acted and presented to me in the best possible manner. Though it's not my favorite movie of all time, or even, in 2012, it's still a great movie and if it does end up winning the Best Picture Oscar, I can certainly understand and not be disappointed.
Now, if Mr. Day-Lewis loses the Best Actor Oscarthen there will be blood, indeed.