Spielberg's "Lincoln"

[Tom Bogar]

OK, folks, time for all good Lincolnians to weigh in. Since I know there will be many, I'll keep it brief: It is magnificent.
1. Hands down, Best Actor for Day-Lewis.
2. Same, Best Screenplay to Kushner, who has done a phenomenal job of translating period language and high-level abstractions of politics and law into compelling dialogue. The plot suspense, too, is admirable, despite our knowing the outcome.
3. The film and the directing should win, but who knows? Certainly by any measure should be nominated.
4. Day-Lewis inhabits the role to a degree almost never seen on film. Lincoln, to my mind, has never come alive so powerfully, eloquently, and with astounding raw humanity. Can't take your eyes off him.
5. Some extremely effective, yet understated moments of reaction to people and events, that give the audience credit for intelligence (and how rare is that today!)

If you were planning to wait for it on Netflix, GO TODAY to a large, real movie theatre showing of it--so powerful on the big screen. Don't even hesitate: cancel whatever plans you had, and GO. (And I'm not an easy critic, believe me.)

(I kept looking for Betty O. sneaking into a shot somewhere, but must have missed her.)