Super Frat

Based on the Doris Kearns book, Steven Spielberg directs this love letter to President Lincoln about passing the 13th Amendment.  Like most Spielberg flicks, the film craft is undeniable.  And with this cast, how can you go wrong?  Daniel Day-Lewis breezes through the role, coming off as a saintly, 1800’s Santa Claus that can do no wrong.

Backed up by the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who seems to be in everything now), Sally Field, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones, Bruce McGill (D-Day from Animal House) and Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach from the Watchman), how could you go wrong?  That being said, it’s not a documentary.  The Tony Kushner screenplay portrays Honest Abe as being almost completely focused on ending slavery and the Civil War.  He almost dismisses his suspension of Haebus Corpus and the Union generals’ many missteps.   In this world, Lincoln is the only nice guy in the halls of power, balancing his presidency with raising his youngest son and keeping his wife, sane.

But like all good movies, the pacing is great and the two plus hours zip by.  And even though Lincoln is portrayed as being above the political skullduggery, it is still somewhat present.  It’s all for a good cause to free the slaves.  Seems to me, however, the movie comes off more like a play.  The big scenes, aside from the opening, aren’t all that big.  It probably could’ve been a TV movie on the History Channel.

I give Lincoln 7 out of 10 keggers.  I think it’s more of a rental, but you won’t be sorry if you see it.