The Poll's Second 'Winner'- LINCOLN
As a history buff with a special affinity for not just Lincoln and his complex, melancholic nature but for Spielberg's -dramatic- films, this was a no-brainer. Most love his fantasy or science fiction. Yet my two favourite films by him are the often overlooked "The Colour Purple" and the universally appreciated and frighteningly accurate "Schindler's List". I have always disagreed with those that called him the King of Fantasy and 'most in his element' when doing fantastic Sci-Fi or something dream-like and perhaps surreal.
No, I think he shines brightest when doing pictures of pure drama. No special effects, no explosions, no aliens, just him, a camera, his actors, and an amazing script. So "Lincoln" was a SHOE-IN for my affections, right??
WRONG.
At first I chalked up my disappointment in the film due to the extreme build-up I had within me and on outside sources. Yet I had to eventually admit to myself and you that it just wasn't what I hoped for and he missed the mark plus his opportunity to make another classic drama.
To start with, I was bored. BORED!!! While watching a SPIELBERG production of LINCOLN starring Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones!! Are you kidding me??!! How did he manage that?? A two hour film of Lewis reciting Lincoln speeches and nothing more would have been more thrilling!!
We start off in the middle of the war and in the middle of battle with him talking to enlisted black men. Promising start. And though Day-Lewis found his inner-Lincoln voice, it's not the high-pitched nasally one history tells us about over and over again. Yet that's fine. Whatever got him moving (and he did do a great job and deserves praise, this I admit).
In my head, I pictured half inner White House scenes and half political, Congressional scenes. What I got was about 20/80, with the 80 percent going to pure politics, votes, filibustering, and what went INTO making slavery illegal. There was precious little of the home Lincoln, the inner-Lincoln, the father, husband, and man. THAT'S what I expected, That's what I wanted, and THAT'S what was missing.
Sally Field looked the part, after gaining some weight and has the manic-y and half crazed Mary Todd Lincoln down pat. UNFORTUNATELY, Mary Todd was from Kentucky and once Ms. Fields starts in with that thickened southern bell accent, her voice is obviously what is is. Sally Field playing a Southern Woman and I expected her at any second to tell Abraham that 'Life was like a box of chocolates.'
Tommy Lee Jones shines as he always does and has a nice twist to his character that I didn't see coming and enjoyed...but it was too little, too late.
Steven Spielberg realized we have seen the Lincoln death scene many, many times and thankfully chose to focus on metaphor and different parts of the assassination to tell us what we already knew and doesn't let the assassin be seen, heard, or have his dirty, shameful name even mentioned which was a bold and nice choice. Yet by then, Abe was gone and the movie....over.
Ironically although disappointed in "Lincoln", I got a treat when handed "Argo" so they sort of evened out my disappointment with an "A-Ha!!". More on this film in an upcoming review yet I will say this: With one little movie, Ben Affleck got his career back.
Thank You for Reading. All Opinions Welcome.
Zuz