It's not often that you can claim a movie to "not have a hair out of place," but LINCOLN certainly comes close. I had absolutely terrible seats (I was in the second row looking straight up at a skewed screen the entirety of the film) and yet it is easily one of the most rewarding viewings I've probably ever had in a theater. For me, that may not mean much, as I only usually visit the theater a few times a year. But, if there are more movies like this one waiting for me in 2013, I will definitely be frequenting the theater more often.
Though the film covers a real historical situation, the cinematography (and quite notably the lighting) delivers a level of artistry that I wouldn't normally expect. Every scene looked like an old oil painting, vivid with color and dramatically lit. It is absolutely breathtaking. I highly recommend seeing this film in theaters just to get the most out of the visual experience, because it is incredible.
The most impressive thing about LINCOLN is the cast. Daniel Day-Lewis seems like he was born to play this role. Tommy Lee Jones was dynamic and hilariously coarse. Sally Field delivered a gripping portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln, whose vulnerability comes to a peak in a scene where she is arguing with the President about the future of their son, Robert (played wonderfully by Joseph Gordon-Levitt). It is one of my favorite scenes in the entire film: the depth of anger and frustration was palpable. From top to bottom, every single performance exceeded my wildest expectations. Great movies will usually have one or two stand-out performances, but I could easily list half of the credited actors involved and describe their performances as impeccable. I haven't seen such a deeply talented cast in a very, very long time.
I was moved by this film (and it's obviously emotional ending), as was the rest of the audience. In a packed theater, as the credits began to roll, nobody could bring themselves to leave. We sat there silently soaking up what we had just witnessed, and paying our respects to the history, the story, and the talent who brought it to life.
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