A history lesson

Rating: 9/10 (9 July 2014)

This is a movie that makes Americans proud of their heritage. They need it after the shame of Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo. It is about the politics of passing the 13th Amendment, the abolishment of slavery. Ironically it would not have happened had the south not seceded. It was sold to a rather bigoted country of the time as a tactic to win the war. To get people to do the right thing, Lincoln's people had to bribe and cajole in ways that sound familiar today in the corrupt game of politics.
The movie would probably sail over the heads of most children or bore them. It's about dirty politics.
The are so many familiar faces, disguised under makeup and wigs, all having a wonderful time hamming it up. The movie reminds me a bit of the Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston saying his lines as if every word would be recorded for all eternity with a background of soaring strings. It is not that corny, but it has that taking-itself-too-seriously feel.
There are hundreds of congressmen and onlookers all in costume debating in the house. It must have cost a mint to film. Everyone is doing something so incredibly full of energy. It felt somewhat phony to me, sort of metaphoric Kodachrome.
Daniel Day Lewis as Lincoln as quite believable, with his squeaky voice and penchant for telling meandering stories to make a point rather than bluntly disagreeing. He hams it up much less than the other actors.
The movie leaves out most of the war, Lincoln's depression, Mary Todd Lincoln's mental troubles, the death of his son, and even to a large extent, the assassination.
I would like it if every adult American saw this movie. It might put a clearer perspective on today's equality issues, women, gays, transgender, immigrants...