MORAL OF THE MOVIE

The story in this film revolves around one of the most important figures in the history of the United States of America: the 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln. From this movie, we can learn about the meaning of true leadership, democracy, and humanity through actions, dialogue, and perseverance. In the face of modern national adversity, we can look back at similar moments of difficulties in history and learn from how the true leaders reacted and responded.

WHO I THINK WOULD MOST ENJOY THIS MOVIE

Anyone who likes history and the sorts of dialogues that must have been happening in historic times. If you don’t mind a slow-burn type of movie that is dialogue-heavy and focused on historic moments. This film is as interesting and captivating as the hit musical Hamilton but without the musical elements.

ADDITIONAL NOTES/COMMENTARY

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” While Sir Winston Churchill was the one that said that quote, it very nicely embodies the purpose of these sorts of historical dramas and of this review. Lately, we’ve seen a lot of people in positions of power that don’t quite represent what it means to be a true leader, which is especially what we all need in these trying times. As such, we’re all left to wonder about what a standard should be for the people in power and for what a leader does. This Steven Spielberg-directed film does just that and offers a profound look into moments in history that almost seem like legend. When learning about this history in school, I never quite thought of these historical figures for the humans that they were; instead, they were portrayed as wholly good or wholly bad. In my opinion, this film manages to show some of the more grey areas that history books fail to portray in school. No one is perfect, and Lincoln was no exception. Spielberg’s direction and Daniel Day-Lewis’ humanistic portrayal of Lincoln (earned the Oscar nomination for Best Director and Oscar win for Best Actor, respectively) show the larger-than-life character for who he was. Through this character study, we see how a true leader reacts to momentous challenges such as passing the 13th Amendment. Lincoln uses his position of power for good and to give voice to the disenfranchised, but did so in a manner that was realistic, not cartoonishly good/naive. The film is appropriately named because it’s entirely focused on the eponymous hero, but the supporting cast deserves just as much praise. The ensemble is full of Academy Award winning and nominated stars, so you can be guaranteed phenomenal acting in all fronts of the movie. With a runtime of two and a half hours, the film may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who enjoy this type of tea, it will be a damn good cup. The music, costume design, cinematography, etc. are all done to enhance the immersive experience of this period piece. There’s also realistic writing that puts you in the shoes of these historical figures and you get to also see how they used to curse in those days. “Buzzard’s guts.” In the end, there are many lessons to be learned from the trials and tribulations that Lincoln went through to abolish slavery in the U.S., but the main one was about the sort of standard that we should expect from our leaders in trying times like the ones we live in today. Overall, Lincoln is mainly meant for those looking to get a fascinating look into the final months of Abraham Lincoln’s life as he sets the standard of what it means to be American and human through his perseverance and dignity. That, and the phenomenal acting and direction too, of course.