Film Review: Lincoln

Stephen Spielberg and company might have taken Mark Twain’s advice when embarking upon the ambitious Tony Kushner script, which was “Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.”

“Lincoln” is a must-see biography of the revered 16^th president of the United States, predominantly focused on the month of January 1865, when the outcome of the Civil War was fairly well decided but the issue of the country ever being united was not. As the author of a script about a historically riveting figure who was a contemporary of Lincoln’s, Frederick Douglass, I agonized over two points of screenwriting that apparently Kushner did, too. 1.) How much historical fact do you leave in, and 2) how much do you leave out?

Daniel Day-Lewis during a break, as Abraham Lincoln

The film succeeds in painting Lincoln as a common man with common sensibilities who is thrust into the most dire of conflicts. His penchant for telling stories, parables if you will, at seemingly inappropriate moments adds brightness to a storyline that is sometimes weighted down by the history of it all. Just as I struggled to fit Douglass’ most memorable words into my script, leaving many in the digital recycle bin, I sensed Spielberg’s fear of omitting some of the speech monologue that defined Lincoln’s lasting role in history. His Second Inaugural Address, counted by some as Lincoln’s greatest speech, is awkwardly tacked on the end as a post-mortem. I didn’t spoil the end for anyone, did I?

Spielberg deftly depicts President Lincoln as a man who is not too proud to consult with staffers, servants and generals.  My favorite scene is one where Lincoln asks his young telegraph officers if they believe people choose when to be born, and whether they are born to fit a specific time in history.  It shows Lincoln’s ability to respect all opinions on important manners, as well as his determination to reach outside of his office to make others feel worthy.

The film is buoyed by some tremendous performances. If there was ever an All-Time Academy Award given for an acting performance, this film might have earned that for … hold on to your stovepipe hat for a second… Sally Field. Her brave, gut-wrenching performance of Mary Todd Lincoln was as moving and solid as any I’ve ever seen. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers a stellar performance as Lincoln, although I could swear I heard a bit o’en Irish brogue overtake his country lawyer dialect in a few places. The tension between Lincoln (Day-Lewis) and William Seward (David Strathairn), was perfect, as the Secretary of State was known for trying to bully Lincoln in the belief that he should have been the commander in chief.

Day-Lewis succeeds in portraying a battle-worn man, and whether Lincoln suffered from Marfan Syndrome, as conjectured, or not, the image of Lincoln trudging through the White House is one that will linger with vewers.

Sally Field delivers an all-time best performance as Mrs. Lincoln.

I highly recommend “Lincoln,” with a slight reservation. You may want to bone up on your 1865 Congressional history before you buy your popcorn.

Stop All the Noise and Lies

It is intentionally late in the season to endorse a candidate. I don’t expect to change any minds with this blog, and it’s not intended to be funny.

 

The most disturbing thing about Election 2009-2012 – it seems that long – is the amount of misinformation peddled by both sides. Moreover, I’m disheartened by the American public’s willingness to ingest such fear-laden ramblings without hesitating to look into their veracity. This billion-dollar pandering and PAC-dominated buying of the Oval Office is despicable at best. I’m not crazy about either candidate because of their classless caving to such a low-level of negative advertising.

 

That said. I will cast my vote this morning for Barack Obama.

 

I resent the Republican ads saying that his term as president was a failure. A few of his achievements were monumental:

• Averted a worldwide banking crisis

• Saved the U.S. Auto industry, and it rebounded to a leadership position

• Neutralized Al Quaeda and made decisions that led to the assassination of Osama Bin Laden

• Restored respectability for the United States with our allies in our foreign policy

• Created a safer environment for Americans to travel abroad

• Brought the stock market back to pre-crash prosperity

• Paved the way for home and real estate values to normalize

• Peace and a downturn in terrorism within the U.S. borders

 

Shame on the Democrats for not speaking up with a louder voice. And, as anyone in the Beltway can tell you, his achievements might have been far more significant without the obstructionist GOPs in Congress trying to destroy him rather than working for a stronger America. Unfortunately, those obstructionists will exist for a Republican president as well in this, our divided America.

 

As Republicans go, Mr. Romney is a good and decent man. I set out wanting to vote for him. His proposed policies will undo many of the advances made in environmental protection. He will undo The United States’ first comprehensive health care plan without offering a better solution. In fact, the plan he bashes is based on one that he created in Massachusetts. He speaks of experience, but he has never actually governed anything other than his own financial empire, and was booted from office after a failed one-term stint as governor in Massachusetts. His advising capacity with Bain Management led to thousands of jobs being shipped to China, the China he now denigrates. He has stated he will cut student loans and force young adults to borrow from their parents to go to school, thus hinting at an elitest regime where only the rich will afford to be educated. He will cut Welfare programs for the now-famous 47% – despite the fact that his own polygamist grandfather subsisted on Welfare for five years when he returned from forced exile in Mexico, paving the way for Mitt’s father, George, to amass a fortune through his own hard work and shrewd dealings. But now that Mitt has inherited his fortune, he wants to close the door of opportunity for many other Americans. His statements on women’s rights and women’s health are appalling. His naivete in foreign policy threatens to unravel fragile peace initiatives across the globe. But our navy will have more battleships, and we will have plenty of horses and bayonets.

 

One of his subjects in Massachusetts characterized his four years there like this and I paraphrase: He was not so keen on governing in Massachusetts as he was on being governor of the Bay State.

 

Although the presidency might be a fine trophy and a nice Happy Meal to feed Mr. Romney’s ego, I believe his election would be harmful to the U.S. Domestic policies and peace abroad. If he is elected today, I foresee an America where the divide grows greater between the Executive Class and the poor, where the middle class will be kicked down the ladder.

 

He has lied and shifted positions, swaying on his convictions until he found a message that resounded with many of the Americans who are eager to be misinformed. If he wins, it will speak volumes to the shallowness of today’s society.

 

Here’s to President Barack Obama, and another four years in attempting to do what is best for the entirety of the American people.