Marquee Mama Reviews LINCOLN

This is a first for me.  You’d normally come here to read about kid movies, family-friendly films – pretty much nothing with a rating stronger than PG (which includes films like Wreck-It Ralph and The Lorax).  But I stepped out recently with my husband for date night to see the much-anticipated Lincoln.  It was a good date.

A quick warning to wives/girlfriends everywhere – this is not a romantic evening out.  What it is, however, is a fantastic film, an intriguing history lesson and a provocative conversation starter.  No matter how much you know going in, or how little, you will have lots to talk about after the credits.

Lincoln not only delivers an important story about the passing of the 13^thAmendment, ending slavery, but it does so with clever, masterful use of the English language.  It was a pure pleasure to listen to the elegant script, the carefully chosen and impeccably delivered words in this film.  It is refreshingly light on profanity (the Mama in Marquee Mama is always sensitive to it) despite dealing with a very incendiary issue.  The film is skillfully balanced with drama and comedy and never beats you over the head with the tension of the times.  Instead, you are brought along through the complexities of redirecting the thoughts of a nation.

Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field star as Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln

The acting is as close as you get to perfection, simultaneously animated and understated, allowing the words to tell the story.  If you’re already a Daniel Day-Lewis fan, you’ll no doubt relish him in this role.  He brings to life an iconic figure, who, to my knowledge, has never been seen in moving pictures.  That means all nuances, all physical habits and gestures had to be interpreted, truly created by the actor, and it’s impossible to take your eyes off him.  Day-Lewis has conjured a lumbering giant of a man with great integrity, tenderness, conviction and humor.

All artistic license considered, Lincoln is a fascinating peak behind the scenes of an historic event.  And what interesting timing to release this movie in the immediate wake of our own national election.  One great takeaway after seeing all the back and forth arguing and back room deals, is that nearly 150 years later, it’s still politics as usual!

Daniel Day-Lewis turns in a tour de force performance as Lincoln

What I Loved:

-Hooray!  No 3-D!

-Look for Oscar nods for Day-Lewis, Sally Field and James Spader (my favorite role!)

-Moms will fall in love with the devoted father Lincoln was

-Authentic wardrobes – real bowties!

-Great departure for Tommy Lee Jones.  Horrible wig.

What I Didn’t Love:

-Great to see Sally Field but again she plays the consummate mother/wife

-In a heated argument with her husband, I wish Mary Lincoln wouldn’t have crumpled to the floor.

-I was conflicted about Lincoln withholding his blessing for his son to enlist.  It was OK for 600,000 soldiers to die for his cause but not his son!  Hmmm…

Lincoln is Rated PG-13 for an intense scene of war violence, some images of carnage and brief strong language.

Steven Spielberg’s biopic, LINCOLN