I'd have to say that while the tone of this movie is pretty clear, it did have some great surprises. Everyone knows that this is one of those "Oscar Please" movies. This is a movie made for the academy and meant to win awards. It's a dramatic story about a dramatic time in American history.
What I found very refreshing was the attention to historical detail. Most notibly in Daniel Day-Lewis' portrayal of Abraham Lincoln. In just about every movie I've ever seen Abraham Lincoln, he's always been this solumn guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders. His voice is rough and raspy and it just looks like at any given moment he could just break down. This Lincoln is far more of an accurate portrayal. This Lincoln is funny! He's whistful! He tells stories and jokes. Yes, he feels the weight of the war and keeping the Union together. Yes, he's pushing against a lot of people trying to pass the 13th ammendment. But this guy never gives in to dispair. He's always fighting. He knows how hard it will be and just doesn't care. Because what he is doing is for the future of the country.
And Lincoln's logic makes sense. The Civil War was fought over slavery, so let's get rid of slavery. That way even if peace is reached, the country won't fall apart again.
This could've very easily brought in the brutality of the war. And it does show some of the carnage, it doesn't indulge. That's something very important going in. This is a political drama. If you're looking to see huge battle scenes, you're in for disappointment. It does show the aftermath of the Battle of Petersburg. That was a brutal scene and somehow doesn't get gratuitous. If you aren't familiar with it, please do the research. It's amazing how one-sided that battle was. Seeing a weary Lincoln surveying that battlefield on his horse was a powerful scene.
As a history fan and a movie fan I loved this movie. Go watch it.
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