Lincoln

Steven Spielberg

2012

I’m open to suggestions, but I’m wondering– is this the best “political process” movie ever? I mean, I guess I can’t really think of many others, but if you can think of a better one, I want to watch it.

This is a fantastic movie, very watchable, with a slightly shaky beginning and one major (but not… um… fatal) flaw.

The big problem seems obvious to most people I’ve talked to– the movie was very clearly over when Lincoln walks down the hall and out the door, but instead they keep it going through the theater scene and his death. This is so incredibly not necessary. We KNOW where he’s going when he leaves, we KNOW what’s going to happen when he gets there. Let it be. The proper ending was a lovely scene. Let the man walk down the hall and end the movie.

The rest, though, is a lot of fun. Which seems like a funny thing to say, but it is. You’ve seen it, so you know this. I think it’s a reasonable criticism to say that there are a lot of repeated scenes, but I wonder if maybe that’s a reflection of the process– all the grandstanding and gnashing of teeth actually is done over and over and over, and sometimes it doesn’t really feel like we’re getting anywhere, even though very small movements are taking place. Anyway, it didn’t bother me.

Partly (mostly?) because of all the wonderful actors who are doing all that gnashing. Most of the faces are recognizable, even many of the very small parts. It’s fun.

You don’t need me to tell you about Daniel Day-Lewis.

I don’t know how accurate the movie is. I’ve heard it both ways. Usually involving Doris Kearns Goodwin.