Lincoln shot in back again, this time by Spielburg

Rating: 1/10 (28 February 2013)

Lincoln the person and President stands for and was an example of honesty and diligent open effort to move forward justice and equality in this country at a difficult and dangerous time in our history. He won the presidency, won the civil war and did more for freedom and fairness as any man who has lived in America.
Watching this movie instead focuses most of its energy on largely unsubstantiated assertions that in order to pass the 13th amendment Lincoln bribed, paid off and lied to various politicians. And assertions that Lincoln bent or broke the law and what was right in the name of a good cause. While no man is perfect and Lincoln may have had faults a movie focusing on shady and disingenuous acts is unfair to Lincoln and to America and reads more like a political statement or propaganda piece. The movie insults the audience's intelligence not only by portraying some dubious gossip as though it is irrefutable fact but also by suggesting Lincoln actually was good "because he lied and bribed and deceived people.
The movie is further flawed by similar attacks on other characters that are without foundation and seem targeted to smear people trying to accomplish a good work. An example is a congressman fighting for passage of the 13th amendment goes home after the success and is shown in bed with his black house keeper? --No explanation no foundation just oh yea and we want you to know this anti slavery guy is sleeping with his house keeper?
I understand that Hollywood is left leaning and am usually willing to put up with a little slanting for a well told story. In this case the slanting is insane and the story isn't even very well told. There is also a fair amount of "disfuntional family discussions" portrayed between Lincoln and his wife and son which seem pointless and designed to just expose dirty laundry which when done for someone who lived that long ago tends to be 90% made up rubbish, and 10% latest Hollywood stupidity.