Pure Enjoyment in a Motion Picture

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2012)

from the other side of the aisle.............................
This is a must see movie....even if you are not a history buff. The acting, costumes, cinematography are breathtaking.
The movie starts off with Lincoln discussing with two white soldiers and two black soldiers as to why they were fighting in the war. It is 1865 and the Civil War is nearing its end. While there is the Emancipation Proclamation, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln begins in earnest to achieve passage of the landmark constitutional 13th Amendment which will forever ban slavery from the United States. The Amendment must be passed before the Confederate States of American sign a peace agreement and the South is back in their Congressional Seats. Needless to say, even without the southern states there are two sides to the issue. Thus begins the movie.
As the movie starts off there is about 5-7 minutes of a Congressional Session which is difficult to understand and seems a bit boring. Not to worry, from then on you are riveted to the screen, the actors and everything else Spielberg is offering. You will laugh, a tear will come to your eye and you will be amazed at the oratory of our 16th President.
You need not be a history buff to understand and appreciate the movie and the long tentacles of political maneuverings. In fact, it doesn't look a whole lot different than today's political arena.
There are several major issues that are floating about and the course of those issues keeps the viewer glued to the screen.
Sally Fields is the quiet sleeper in the film as she does an outstanding job of playing Mary Todd Lincoln. David Strathairn plays Secretary of State Seward and is a major contributor and thorn in Lincoln's side. Tommy Lee Jones is also "Bravo" as Thaddeus Stevens, an influential congressmen, This is the first movie I have walked out of knowing that I was going to buy the DVD when it came out.