Un-Presidented
by Shawn Abraham
Steven Spielberg directed a remarkable movie which precisely describes the turmoil President Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) had when he had the goal of ending the Civil War.
The setting of the film as well as the costume design allow the viewer to visualize society in the mid 1800's. Lincoln focuses on the last years of the president's life, when he sought to unite the nation by ending the Civil War and pushing for the end of slavery with
the 13th Amendment, along with a resistant congress. Not only does Lincoln have to deal with the struggle of passing the 13th Amendment, but must also cope with his wife Mary (Sally Field), as she struggles with the deaths of several of their sons. Additionally, his older son Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) returns home to fight for the Union.
Screenwriter Tony Kushner emotionally showcases Lincoln's motivations behind passing the 13th Amendment and ending the Civil War. Rather than focusing on the bloody war, he focuses on Lincoln. An interesting feature was that he took everyone's opinion
into consideration.
Daniel Day-Lewis was certainly the right person to portray Lincoln. He embraced the president's wit and confidence to act in the best nature for all Americans, portraying the shift in Lincoln's enthusiasm of telling heart-felt stories to his cabinet and tending to his wife's depression due to the deaths of their sons’ deaths.
Lincoln provides an intriguing glimpse into the personal motivations that caused the president to stand up for what he believed in. It is not simply a historical drama based on a leader's actions, but a film that allows viewers to see the true emotions of such a significant period of American history.
Steven Spielberg directed a remarkable movie which precisely describes the turmoil President Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) had when he had the goal of ending the Civil War.
The setting of the film as well as the costume design allow the viewer to visualize society in the mid 1800's. Lincoln focuses on the last years of the president's life, when he sought to unite the nation by ending the Civil War and pushing for the end of slavery with
the 13th Amendment, along with a resistant congress. Not only does Lincoln have to deal with the struggle of passing the 13th Amendment, but must also cope with his wife Mary (Sally Field), as she struggles with the deaths of several of their sons. Additionally, his older son Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) returns home to fight for the Union.
Screenwriter Tony Kushner emotionally showcases Lincoln's motivations behind passing the 13th Amendment and ending the Civil War. Rather than focusing on the bloody war, he focuses on Lincoln. An interesting feature was that he took everyone's opinion
into consideration.
Daniel Day-Lewis was certainly the right person to portray Lincoln. He embraced the president's wit and confidence to act in the best nature for all Americans, portraying the shift in Lincoln's enthusiasm of telling heart-felt stories to his cabinet and tending to his wife's depression due to the deaths of their sons’ deaths.
Lincoln provides an intriguing glimpse into the personal motivations that caused the president to stand up for what he believed in. It is not simply a historical drama based on a leader's actions, but a film that allows viewers to see the true emotions of such a significant period of American history.