Lincoln

[RottingCorpse]

I'm all tuned up about Spielberg's Lincoln movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis. First official pic.

[nacho]

You'll have to get Team of Rivals into you before release!

And, of course, the story just tells itself. All of the conspirators, including Booth, so clearly visible, looking down at Lincoln during the second inaugural address (a short, wounded, yet hopeful little ditty: http://www.nationalcenter.org/LincolnSecondInaugural.html).

[monkey!]

At least it's not the fucking Vampire Hunter.

[nacho]

RC's in school so I get to beat him to the punch!

I'm hoping the trailer is leaning so heavily on freeing the slaves because that's what the common people think. Because...that's the wrong path to take otherwise. Freeing the slaves was an afterthought. A desperate move at a time when it was feared we couldn't reform the union.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiSAbAuLhqs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiSAbAuLhqs</a>

[nacho]

Another trailer that also leaves me cold.


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_PfTl63qQQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_PfTl63qQQ</a>

[nacho]

So...maybe I watched the Asylum version by accident, but this was a terrible movie. An overlong, overwrought, ahistorical, melodramatic mess more concerned with a parade of guest stars than anything else. One of those overly impressed with itself films.

I wonder if people rave about it because they're afraid of being called racists if they don't?

[RottingCorpse]

For a three hour movie that's essentially about political process and buying votes, it's pretty engaging. I was enthralled mentally but not emotionally. Yeah, the movie is in love with itself, but isn't every Spielberg movie?

I think it's about the performances more than the story anyhow. Daniel Day Lewis is always pretty riveting to watch and controversial voice aside, I thought he was amazing. Sally Field too, though Missus RC and I got in a discussion about how crazy Mary Todd Lincoln really was. Wasn't she actually committed at some point?

I liked it. I don't know if I'd watch it again, but I certainly don't regret the ticket price.

[nacho]

It's not about the story, Mr. Lucas!

[RottingCorpse]

Also, didn't the other two sons die as well somewhat early and tragically?

[nacho]

Also, didn't the other two sons die as well somewhat early and tragically?

All but one died. Which is what broke Mary Todd. She also lost all of her brothers (who fought for the south). And then she smashed her head in an accident!

Then the poor girl is sitting next to him when he gets his head blown off. Jesus.

[RottingCorpse]

After twenty four hours, I feel like this movie was really good with the exception of the ending. They shouldn't have done the assassination at all. The last shot should have been Lincoln walking down the white house hallway headed to Ford's Theatre. *Maybe* they could have cut to the speech at the end, but even that had no resonance. (I don't even recall what speech it was actually.) The ending makes the whole thing ironic, like he fought so hard for this one thing the 13th amendment) and then didn't live to see it truly realized.