I was really disappointed

Rating: 2/10 (23 August 2015)

OK, first, I am an avid student of the Civil War though by no means a historian. No, I NEVER go to a movie expecting 'historical accuracy'. The film maker has to engage the audience, and side business and composite characters are the norm. And it works, see "Glory" e.g. A very compelling tale told in a compelling way. Of course, I "had to see" this movie, for the above reason and I heard about DDL's amazing meticulous portrayal of the 16th President. And Holbrook, Jones, Sally Field... wow! Well, I got my chance to see it last night. It seemed like I was waiting for the movie to start all the way through. What was the point? Anti slavery? Cohesion/dissolution of the Union? The questionable (and highly common) political tactics of the time? What was the point? There was none. Our 16th president was not so concerned with the well being of blacks in America, everyone who's studied it all knows that. He wanted Liberia to be a place to colonize them TO, away FROM the USA. But, you know, dramatic license etc.... OK, OK, I can live with that. DDL's performance left me dead flat. Oh it was as accurate a portrayal as you could get - his incessant jokes and stories, he really annoyed the pee out of Edwin Stanton, who thought it undignified. I don't know that Lincoln used the word "ain't" except intentionally when he wanted to patently lapse into colloquialism. But Hollywood... you know. I expected more from Jones, and Fields, but Gordon-Levitt turned in one of the finest performances in the film. I can only say that specifically, I can't point to one complaint but instead feel that the film is flawed in so many ways. My gosh, the last time I heard this much speechifying in a movie like this was the hideous "Gettysburg", a 90 minute docudrama that was extended to 4+ hours of inane drivel. I feel that the most engaging and yes, entertaining take on Lincoln was Waterston. It was even better that he had done Lincoln's voice in the super epic "The Civil War". I give two stars for effort. The script was terrible. Some of the plot devices were cute, but thats about 6 of the 150 interminable minutes of this movie. A real let down for me overall. I'm hanging up a picture of Spielberg in my bathroom tonight. ;-)