Worthy, insightful and often stirring.

Rating: 8/10 (15 February 2013)

It's an understatement to proclaim my expectations for Lincoln were high. With two-time Oscar winner Steven Spielberg behind the camera and two-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis in front of it, expectations were through the roof. Never mind that cinematographer Janusz Kaminski has two Golden Baldies, composer John Williams has five, production designer Rick Carter has one, editor Michael Kahn has three, Sally Field has two and Tommy Lee Jones has one; the director / title star combo was enough to ensure this biopic was judged against higher standards. Does it succeed? Yes. And no. It's not a masterpiece capable of sitting alongside Spielberg's best (Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Jaws, etc), nor is it even in the top echelon of movies released so far in 2013, yet that doesn't stop it from being a powerful, moving drama that provides the perfect environment for its main man to positively shine. The occasional spot of schmaltz and Field's tendency to veer into melodrama as the heartbroken Mrs Lincoln are forgotten instantly thanks to Day-Lewis' commanding performance as one of the most beloved and, as proved here, interesting U.S. presidents. A worthy, insightful and often stirring motion picture that will surely see Day-Lewis win a record third Best Leading Actor Academy Award.