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Tuesday 29 January 2013

Lincoln. Also known as the man with the nice hat.


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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