brilliant

Rating: 9/10 (3 February 2013)

This movie makes Abraham Lincoln the imperfect yet magnificent man, come right out of the screen at you. The lead is portrayed with sincerity and to great effect and is entirely in- character. This is entirely what I imagined Lincoln to be: at times affable, keenly focused, and at once erudite and folksy. This character, in all of his dimensions, even the tragic ones, is played expertly.
Sally Field gives a command performance as Mary Todd Lincoln. It is nothing shy of magnificent. She is to be applauded for this fine effort.
The production values are tremendous. John William's music is unobtrusive but highly atmospheric. The cinematography fully conveys the 'world lit by fire' atmosphere of the mid 19th century.
The creators of this movie are smart enough to focus on the events leading up to the 13th amendment. This was an epic process and the scope of the film is correct.
It is likely this will be seen as a definitive depiction of Lincoln.