A Methodical and Thought Provoking Exploration Into the Humanity of Lincoln

Rating: 8/10 (24 November 2012)

Touted at its arrival as a front-runner of the Oscar race, Lincoln fulfills the reputation that preceded it; mostly. This latest film by the great Steven Spielberg presents a logically based methodical view on the events surrounding the passing of the 13th Amendment in the House of Representatives. Supported by pitch perfect performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field, Lincoln gives us a composed and contemplative depiction of our 16th president. Many times in the film, Abraham Lincoln stops in the middle of political proceedings to tell a random story; combined with Daniel Day-Lewis's subtle mannerisms, this creates a highly believable character, rather than just an actor hashing out lines (I'm talking about you Wrath of the Titans!).
This film truly lives up to its name; although it involves the 13 Amendment, it is foremost about the humanity of Lincoln. It is about his composed nature in the face of chaos, heck he takes the time to crack some jokes. It is about when it became game time he transformed into a determined, powerful, and inspirational leader. Lincoln is about his family and political struggles and how they become intertwined.
Lincoln is a thorough exploration in the mind, heart, and soul of Abraham Lincoln, yet with such a personal subject, I feel unmoved. Because the struggles were viewed on an almost logical level in the house debates and in political meetings, a majority of the ordeal seemed void of emotion. It was partly because of the character of Lincoln who was forced to detach himself from the emotions that were pounding at his door. There were parts in which raw emotion escaped him, and those will be remembered as my favorite scenes from the film; however, when it was over, all I could do was nod my head, say, "Good man Lincoln.", and leave.
Also, I couldn't help thinking of another film that is very similar to Lincoln. Amazing Grace was a film released in 2006 about William Wilberforce dealing with the abolition of slavery in England. Because of this comparison, Lincoln lost some points on originality as many of the House debate scenes were closely reminiscent of the debate scenes in Amazing Grace.
Nevertheless, Lincoln was a nearly flawless production; the painstaking precision and crafting of Abraham Lincoln's character and the story surrounding him was clearly evident. As a result of the political aspect of the story, I find myself still pondering on the subjects dealt with in this film. It would take an eternity to truly explore the depths of Abraham Lincoln, but Steven Spielberg did the best that could ever be done in 150 minutes.