Slavery. It’s a topical one at the moment
isn’t it? It seems like every actor, director and writer worth his salt is all
of sudden is interested in depicting Western civilization's brutal massacre of
nearly an entire continent.I wonder why that could be? It’s taboo, controversial and entertaining. Hmm isn’t
there a very prestigious award ceremony close to about now that hand out small gold men for such daring films? In the running for said prestigious award (also known as
the Oscar’s) is Lincoln.Our story starts with the dear old Yanks doing what
they do best. Fighting. The drawling Slave- driving southerners are battling
the liberalist (ish) North over slavery. At the helm of the liberalist North and wearing a very dapper hat, stands Lincoln (Daniel Day Lewis), President and
commander in chief! Being the fine fellow that he is, Lincoln wants to push
through the thirteenth amendment, which basically means that it’s not a-ok to
keep slaves any more. Opposing him are a lot of racist morons who basically
think that black people aren’t equal to white people. Lincoln plots, duck, dive
and swindles his way to a more fair and equal world whilst telling some pretty
funny but also sort of pointless stories in his pyjamas.
Daniel Day’s Lewis’ portrayal of one of
America’s tallest president’s is spot on. You can see the old method acting
coming out in him: the stance, the mannerisms and an accent that strangely
sounds like Owen Wilson. He’s also grown a lovely white beard too! One of the
more dubious elements of the film however is that Lincoln seems a little too
nice. Don’t get me wrong I’m sure he was a stand up guy but he’s portrayed as
God incarnate who can do no wrong. The film also moves at the pace of a blind
sloth that’s just broken it’s leg and seeing as you already know the ending of
the film (slaves freed, Lincoln dead) there is no sense of anti-climax or
suspense. All in all Lincoln is like a very entertaining and biased history
lesson. Confusing at times due to it’s political jargon which may make you feel
a little stupid but generally an all round winner. Now, I wonder where I could
get my hands on one of those interesting hats
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