turgid drama

Rating: 7/10 (23 December 2012)

An historically disappointing film, with a great cast and great performances (Daniel Day-Lewis,Sally Field,Tommy Lee Jones and David Strathairn stand out in particular), but lacking in story, and moreover, integrity.
"Lincoln" spans the last few months of the War Between the States and Lincoln's life. Given the wealth and complexity of historical subject matter, the film focuses rather narrowly on Lincoln's supposed obsession with the passage of the 13th Amendment.
As screenwriter Tony Kushner would have it, Lincoln was willing to extend the War Between the States -- and if we are to believe the script, did so -- in order to pass the law in Congress abolishing slavery.
To Kushner's credit, Lincoln is scripted to express at least an awareness of, if not internal conflict over, the slippery slope he embarks upon with frank discussions of moral relativity. E.g., is it justifiable to violate the Constitution or States' Rights in order to do what he believes is best for the nation? The drama in the film revolves entirely around this issue.
Sadly, the film defends the position that the ends justify the means -- expediency over morality.
Other viewers will no doubt argue that Lincoln's cause was just and laud him as a progressive and a visionary.
The ethical shortcomings of the film are rather to do with what history the script excludes.
Specifically, there is no mention of what started the War Between the States. In the absence of an answer to this question, the naive viewer will suppose, ending slavery.
The fact is that the War was fought over the Northern States' blockade of Southern ports in an effort to control and monopolize trade; when the federal government chose sides (supporting the North), the War began. In short: it was all about money. Lincoln supported the Northern industrialists in blockading the Southern ports. Doing so was an abuse of Presidential power and in violation of the Constitution.
Moreover, the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) was made more than two years into the War, and was specifically intended to generate support for the War in the North, where public opinion had never been strongly in favor of of the War, and lately had turned strongly against it.
In this context, there is no mention of the Draft Riots in New York City (please look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_draft_riots).
Another historical deletion is Lincoln's Liberia Plan (please look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_and_slavery). Indeed, if one consults historical sources, one finds that The Great Emancipator's plan was to deport the freed slaves to Liberia. Not exactly what the film conveys.
It is distressing to see a film honoring expediency over morality, while glossing over historical fact and context.
One hopes that Day-Lewis, Field and Jones will receive Academy Award nominations for their stellar performances. But the film's content was disappointing.