Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln is a Great Big, American Masterpiece

Last updated on: November 10, 2012 at 4:56 pm by dannyfisher

Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln is a Great Big, American Masterpiece 2012-11-10T16:56:46-07:00 dannyfisher

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I know I’m biased, but trust me: Steven Spielberg’s new film Lincoln is a masterpiece of the first order — the director’s career-best film in my view.

I was fortunate to attend an early screening here in Los Angeles yesterday, and I think it’s hands-down the best film ever made about the US of A — what we are, what we aren’t, what we could be. It’s a most important artistic mulling over of our country, its processes, and the human being we hold up as the paragon of its leadership. I’ve never seen anything quite like it: a rich, challenging, and so frequently moving meditation about this land I was born upon.

I was brought to tears no less than four times (count ’em): in the first scene between Lincoln and his youngest son Tad, Thaddeus Stevens’ return home to his “maid” after the vote on the Thirteenth Amendment, the silent Appomattox Courthouse sequence, and the ending (the most devastating moment that Mr. Spielberg has yet composed).

The entire cast (which is full of our best working character actors) is outstanding across the board, but I was particularly amazed by the performances of James Spader (as W.N. Bilbo), Jared Harris (as General Ulysses S. Grant), and the riveting Sally Field (as Mary Todd Lincoln). And there’s no praise high enough for the work of Daniel Day-Lewis (in the title role), my friend Tony Kushner (who wrote the script), and Spielberg. I’m not even going to try to capture their achievement in words. The three of them have offered something to all of us that is truly special and so very needed as our nation looks forward.

For goodness sake, go see this movie when it is released across the country next weekend.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 6, 2012

On the 2012 Election

Next Post

November 12, 2012 On Veterans Day

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month March 2015 December 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did the angel tell the shepherds?

Select your answer to see how you score.

All of These Things To Not Be Afraid The Location of the Newborn Savior How to Recognize the Newborn Savior