Spielberg's Lincoln

[BettyO]

Just got in from the last matinee showing of Spielberg's Lincoln.....

One word - Phenomenal !!!! PLEASE - see this movie!!!

It definitely has a "you are there" feel -- and look for Oscars for Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Field....their interaction with each other is astonishing while the deep felt love between father Abraham and son Tad is extremely touching - as is the "somewhat" estrangement between Robert and his father. The sets and costuming could NOT be improved upon - visually stunning!

The political aspects of the film are breathtaking and carry the weight of the movie while at it's core is "Lincoln the Man" -

This brought back so many pleasant memories of last year being on set.... meeting and conversing with beautiful Gloria Reuben (Mrs. Keckley) and discussing her wardrobe - (look for the exquisite rust colored silk dress she is wearing!) as well as finding out that the engaging young man who greeted me each morning with a cheery "Mornin' Toots!" when I went onto set before work was actually Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Robert Lincoln!) It was also great fun to pick out all of our "local" spots where the movie was filmed here in VA....

Tommy Lee Jones, a crusty Hal Holbrook, and James Spader also steal the show with appropriate tongue-in-cheek humor, and David Strathaim is WONDERFUL as Seward!

The theater I went to had a PACKED, mixed audience and I was also surprised to see a great number of young folk - not every teen or 20-something was there to see "Twilight" Vampires!!

Definitely a MUST SEE!!! Can't wait for the DVD -

By the way -- in the credits as historical consultants are our own Dr. Terry Alford and Harold Holzer!

[Linda Anderson]

We saw "Lincoln" today at the matinee. The theater was packed with mostly older people. There were a few who seemed quite old who probably do not go to many movies, if any. I didn't see too many young people but my son enjoyed watching the political wheeling and dealing. My husband said it reminded him of "The West Wing." As we were leaving, the usher, an older gentleman, engaged us in a conversation about how Lincoln had aged in office, how Lincoln had saved the Union, etc. He seemed quite moved by Lincoln the man although he had only seen bits and pieces of the movie.

Watching it is a very intense experience that resonates long after the movie is over, especially for those of us who have devoted our time to studying the Civil War era. The acting is wonderful, especially by Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. David Strathairn is also great as Seward, "Lincoln's right hand man," who is with him every step of the way. There is so much going on that I'm looking forward to watching it again when it comes out on DVD.

After everyone has a chance to see the movie, I'd like to know what you think of how Spielberg chose to end it.

[BettyO]

I agree, Linda -- the ending was extremely interesting. My friends thought that it should have ended in another way which I won't divulge here until most folk have seen the film. And yes, I could go to the theater and see it again as well....

[HerbS]

An ending that makes people begin! More people were saying as they walked slowly out of theater,"That movie makes me want to learn about Lincoln."

[Rob Wick]

An interesting account of the experiences of an extra.

Best
Rob

[RJNorton]

I hope John Elliott and Barry Cauchon see your post, Rob. They were both extras in The Conspirator.

[RJNorton]

Barry wrote about this on his excellent blog here.

[RJNorton]

"Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” (Disney) placed third, with ticket sales of $13.51 million; “Lincoln,” a leading Oscar contender, is turning into a runaway hit, at least as far as serious historical dramas go these days, taking in about $83.7 million over four weeks."

Article here.

[LincolnMan]

I'm already wishing for a Director's Cut when it goes to DVD.

[jonathan]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-5755...-theaters/

[RJNorton]

Thanks for posting that link, Jonathan. Great news.

[LincolnMan]

That's great news! I consider the movie, among several things, an "educational piece" for the unlearned masses. This provides history that viewers probably would have never gotten otherwise.

[ewtsmail]

How historically accurate is this movie? Was Lincoln the great emancipator? I have read in some books that Lincoln would be considered a racist by todays standard.

[RJNorton]

Hi Mary. There are many excellent posts, some of which relate to your questions, in the pages that begin here.

[My Name Is Kate]

I saw the Lincoln movie last night. I thought the acting was superb, but I got lost in all the politics. I hadn't read any reviews of the movie except a little of what various people have said on this forum. I didn't expect the movie to portray such a limited segment of Lincoln's life. I didn't know who some of the main characters were until well into the movie, and some I had to read up on after the movie to find out their historical significance. I still don't know who some of them were (for example, who was the overweight guy who looked like Ted Kennedy?)

I guess I'm revealing (some more of) my ignorance here, but I wouldn't really recommend the movie to the average person without first doing a little historical research on who some of the characters in the movie are. But I was impressed with Lincoln as a person, and I was left wondering how in the world did he manage to hold together through four years of a horrific war, a not-so-good marriage, deaths in the family, hundreds of thousands of deaths that must have been weighing on his conscience, political and moral decisions he had to make without knowing if they were the right ones, etc., etc.

I'm glad they left out the assassination itself because Booth would have loved to see himself portrayed on the big screen. Like others have mentioned, I also didn't care much for the scene at the beginning with Lincoln and the soldiers reciting the Gettysburg Address. And I didn't like the scene where Lincoln slaps Robert.