LINCOLN

US, 2012, 165 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Day- Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon- Levitt, James Spader, John Hawkes, Tim Blake- Nelson, Lee Pace, Jared Harris, Jackie Earle Haley, Bruce Mc Gill, Michael Stuhlbarg..
Directed by Steven Spielberg.

An impressive film.

While this film runs for over two and a half hours, it limits itself to the month of January, 1865 (with a very brief prologue indicating the intensity of the war in close-up one-on-one combat in muddy fields and an epilogue with the surrender of General Robert E. Lee and the assassination of President Lincoln). The focus is human rights and politics. With the act for the abolition for slavery passed by the Senate, the campaign for the vote in the House of Representatives was hard and, at times, bitterly fought. Some audiences may find this political drama uninteresting, even boring, but for those with an interest in history, it is often fascinating and illuminating.

Then there is the performance of Daniel Day- Lewis, an actor who, for thirty years has made comparatively few films, who immerses himself in his roles (and won two Oscars, and now his third) so that the audience accepts his character completely. This is Lincoln. In fact, it is a portrait of Lincoln just months before his untimely assassination. He looks rugged, Day- Lewis affecting his stoop, while still standing tall, his awkward gait, his craggy and ageing face as well as his 19th century elegant language, his storytelling and humour, and his political nous and risk-taking while holding to principle yet conceding the realities of compromise.

The actor has a solid screenplay to work on, written by playwright Tony Kushner. It is a literate, often literary, screenplay. It is a pleasure to listen to much of the dialogue and the interchanges between 19th century politicians (who did not shy from invective while taking their stances). And, of course, early in the film, the Gettysburg address is spoken and, at the end, other speeches by Lincoln.

The film is impressive in its re-creation of the period, the costumes, the décor of Washington DC, Congress and the White House.

The film has quite a vast cast populated by many American character actors. Tommy Lee Jones stands out as Thaddeus Stevens, the irascible Republican who declares that all people are equal before the law, his grounds for the abolition of slavery irrespective of other arguments about racial equality. Sally Field is powerfully strong as Mary Todd Lincoln, supportive of her husband but afflicted with physical and mental suffering after the death of her son, William. David Strathairn, always convincing, is Secretary Seward.

The film shows the background of the long war and the huge number of killed and wounded. It shows the representations from the South for peace which raised a dilemma for voters whether it was opportune to vote for the abolition of slavery at a time when peace proposals were in the offing. Lincoln shrewdly tells the delegates to stay away from Washington so that he can truthfully tell the House of Representatives that there were no peace delegates in the capital.


There is great attention to detail in the characterisations of many of the politicians. The device of having three lobbyists working to persuade waverers and those whose terms of office were about to finish to vote for abolition works well in terms of personalizing (and visualising) the different ways of persuasion.

But, this is a Steven Spielberg film. It is forty years since he began directing films – it is forty years since Duel and 37 years since Jaws, almost twenty years since Schindler’s List (let alone ET, Indiana Jones, The Colour Purple, Empire of the Sun, Jurassic Park, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan or War Horse). He has had an extraordinary career. While being one of America’s great entertainers, he has also contributed with stylish craft and finesse to his country’s and the world’s understanding of 19th and 20th century history. John Williams has, as usual, composed the score but it is rather unobtrusive, a background to the performances and the words.

This reviewer would be happy to watch it again – and did.

1. The impact of the film? A piece of Americana? The awards and acclaim? For American audiences? Worldwide audiences?

2. The response to Abraham Lincoln? Admiration for him? Knowledge about his personality, his status, his presidency, the civil war, the issues of slavery, his assassination? As a political operator? His death and what might have been?

3. The work of Steven Spielberg? His long career? The quality of his craft? His contribution to American consciousness? Tony Kushner and his career in writing?

4. The photography, widescreen, muted color, the atmosphere of the 19th century, of the Civil War, of Washington, DC, the House of Representatives, the White House? The contrast with the scenes at the River Queen, the surrender at Appomattox? The era, production design? an authentic feel, the range of costumes? The subdued musical score?

5. The cast, Daniel Day-Lewis? and his skills, bringing Lincoln alive? The political activity, with his family, love for his wife, controlling her, the work with the lobbyists?

6. The prologue of the Civil War, the mud, one-on-one combat, death on both sides, brother against brother, bringing home of the harsh reality of the war? Lincoln, his being on the battlefield, talking with people, friendly manner, unassuming, the black soldiers and their explaining their status, pay, not being advanced to officer positions? The young white soldiers? Looking to the future? Reciting the Gettysburg address? Introducing the address and its themes early in the film, the audience responding, its pervading the film?

7. January 1865, day by day, the issue of ending the war? The events of April 1865, momentous?

8. The drama for the voting on amendment 13? The vote itself, the issues of slavery, its being timely or not, the condition of the war coming to an end, the South and the accepting of surrender, of the abolition of slavery? The representatives from the south coming north for peace, the discussions, Seward, discussions with Lincoln, diplomacy, the representatives not coming in to Washington? Lincoln able to be truthful with the house members and questions about their not being present in Washington? The visualising of the battles, the deaths, the dead on the battlefields and Lincoln’s visit, riding through the bodies? The achievement of the vote, the tensions, suspense for audiences watching? Principles, politics, the end of the war? The influence on the United States and its history?

9. Lincoln and his relationship with Seward, as secretary of state? Advice, Seward as strong-minded? Wanting the amendment?

10. Lincoln and his relationship with his wife, hard, her suffering, her migraines, the threat of the institution, the death of Will, his love for Thad? The criticism of his being hard on Robert? The political discussions with Mary? Her support? The dream of the ship and the visuals? Her interpretation as the amendment?

11. Blair, founding the Republican Party? Lincoln’s visit, Blair in himself, his associates, the discussions, the deal, Blair going to Richmond? Tough, swearing, drinking, the caution about Thad’s presence? The return from Richmond? The possibility for peace? The delegation? Their not going to Washington? Blair at the vote, the postponement of the motion, his consent?

12. Seward as a character, strong-minded, the cigars, with Lincoln, not being told about the delegates, his being upset? The visit of the couple from the south, the discussions about the job, his interrogating the woman about her views on the amendment, her agreeing with the president, yet her expressions of prejudice?

13. Seward, organizing the three men for canvassing votes? Their characters, personalities and style? The meetings? Lincoln not being told the details? The work, the lists, the collage of the contacts, watching the debate in the house, studying the body language? Bilbo and his bravado? The serious member of the group? The third member and his encounters, the visuals, visits, the threats, jobs for the candidates, possibilities?

14. The range of the waverers, their losing office, their hopes, principles, possibilities for jobs?

15. The Democrats in the house, Pendleton and his speeches, bitterness, biases? Wood, New York, smart, the prejudices of the north, his eloquence and taunting Stevens? The discussion about equality, racism, God’s order in creation? Reputations and taunts?

16. The role of the speaker, his personality, his rules for the discussions? Ashley, house business, the impossibility of putting the amendment? Cabinet meeting, Lincoln’s insistence, his telling stories, Stanton’s impatience? The military aspects, the taking of the port and Wilmington? The strategies, the later waiting for cables, the information, the casualties?

17. Robert, at school in Boston, coming home, relationship with Thad? Thad and his playing, affection? Robert and his arguing with his mother? His wanting to go into the army? Her hard stance? His arguing with his father? At the social? Going to the hospital, not going in, his father’s motives in taking him? Seeing the barrow with the blood and the limbs, into the pit? Lincoln’s arguments with Mary about Robert not forgiving them? His going to General Grant? Present at the surrender? Thad and his presence in the house, playing, the uniform?

18. The Republican Party? Thaddeus Stevens and his views, long held? In the house, his rhetoric, ability to upset the Democrats? His discussions with Lincoln, policy, favoring the amendment? Challenge to him by the Democrats? The equality of all races before the war, equality before God? In the house for the vote, the delay, his success, asking for the document, taking it home, his black partner and his love for her, domestic comfort, removing his wig, her delight in reading the amendment? The audience hearing the amendment in her voice? The significance of Stevens?

19. The Lincoln household, the black servant, companion to Mary, in the gallery with her? Her background, her being freed? Her son dying in the war? Talking with the Lincoln at the White House door? Present in the gallery for the vote? The old servant and the house, looking after everyone, born free, the running joke about the gloves?

20. The Democrats’ plans, the meetings, Wood and the tactics? Pendleton? The expectations, strategies? Delaying the vote because of the delegates from the south?

21. The delegates, Blair’s intervention, their staying at the River Queen? Discussions about the issues? Lincoln keeping them there? His eventually seeing them, the discussions about issues, slavery, the attitudes of the men from the South, the vice-president and his acceding to Lincoln?

22. The question about the delegates being in Washington, the men running to the White House? The message, Lincoln writing the note, the truth?

23. The pressure on those doubting, the personal reasons, belief in slavery or not, the issue of winning the war without the amendment, public opinion,
personal fears, jobs and ambitions? The man whose brother died and refusal for Lincoln’s request? Their being in the house, at the vote?

24. The vote, the prolonged presentation, the speaker and his casting vote, Mary Todd counting, the cables going to Grant? The feeling of the voting? The individual votes, the Democrats who decided to vote for the amendment and the effect on them? Pendleton and his calling them traitors?

25. The aftermath, congratulations, joy in the house, public reaction? Lincoln and his achievement and determination?

26. The final strategies and battles of the war, Lincoln tour in the battlefield, the mounds of dead men? The effect on the president?

27. General Grant, his discussions with Lincoln? His presence at Appotomattox? Receiving the surrender of General Lee?

28. Washington, the sense of achievement, Lincoln and Mary? Going to the theatre, his delay, the gloves?

29. The device of having Thad go to another play, the performance and magic and adventure, the interruption, the announcement, grief?

30. Lincoln at the White House, lying on the bed, dying? The time of his death?

31. The final speeches of Lincoln, the film ending with his noble rhetoric, sense of humanity? His place in the American memory? American history? World history?