Lincoln-A Different Viewpoint then we are used to

Rating: 6/10 (21 November 2012)

LINCOLN - - To start with how could you not like a film that Hal Holbrook is in ? Directed by Steven Spielberg the film at 149 minutes is a little long it starts out on the slow side then picks up the pace into a crescendo. The two themes of the film is President Lincoln's attempts to one end the Civil War and second to get enough votes in The House of Representatives to pass by a two thirds majority the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution that will end slavery the Amendment that has already peen passed by the Senate. I enjoyed that portion of the storyline immensely being a political junkie to see all the behind the scene wrangling to get enough Democrats on board to assure it's passage knowing that the exact things still goes on today 147 years later. Much of the film takes place indoors with low lighting giving it the feel of what indoor lighting was like in 1865. Daniel Day- Lewis was brilliant as Abe Lincoln as was Sally Field as Mary Lincoln. The highlight performance to me was Tommy Lee Johns as Thaddeus Stevens who will do whatever is necessary to see that the Amendment passes, we find out later the ulterior motives for that Point of View. Toward film's end General Ulysses S. Grant tells President Lincoln something along the lines of "Your appearance seems to have gained 10 years in the last 1 year" I guess the strains of being President was as difficult today as it was then"