Lincoln
** ½
PG-13
150 minutes
Director Steven Spielberg’s latest drama focuses on a very specific time in Abraham Lincoln’s second term as president showing how he convinced the House of Representatives to pass the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery. The film serves as a lesson in politics as we see Lincoln work with members of his cabinet and Congress to pass the bill before a peace treaty is signed with the South. It is fascinating to hear some of the arguments made for and against the bill. Some use logic and reason while others rely on pure rhetoric. Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance as Lincoln is outstanding as are the performances of other actors such as James Spader, David Strathairn and Tommy Lee Jones.
Unordinary, the movie is slowly paced and too long. My interest came and went at various times. I was hoping for more of a biography or character study of Lincoln and while we get some of that, most of the script is devoted to long speeches.
Notes for parents: Lincoln is suitable for most teens and adults. There are a few scenes showing the violence of war and a few profanities (including one F-bomb). The only other issue is that some people may find the movie boring.
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