Lincoln (2 Viewers)

[Scott]

Yep. we went to see it tonight. Really Really good. No "small" roles either.

 

[nysoldiers]

Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Fields will get oscars......

 

[Combat]

In case anyone is interested:

Director Steven Spielberg will deliver the keynote address at an observance commemorating the 149th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.” Spielberg is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 19 at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg.

 

[jazzeum]

Here's an interview with Eric Foner, author of the prizewinning The Fiery Trial, who's not as keen on the movie as a faithful retelling of history, http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2012/11/14/pkg-wynter-lincoln-historian.cnn

 

[Scott]

I paid attention to the movie and I don't agree entirely with Mr. Foner. (I would like to read his book.) The role of the Abolitionists was certainly represented though Thaddeus Stevens.

The movie did only identify with subtitles the three Confederate commissioners. Perhaps the film should have ID'd more of the characters with subtitles.

 

[jazzeum]

I don't strongly disagree with his statements. The long road to abolition started when three slaves deserted to Fort Monroe in 1861 and Benjamin Butler refused to turn them back as they were "contraband." It was an evolving process that culminated with the defeat of the South and the 13th Amendment was just the final piece as Lincoln realized that when the War was over and peace restored that the Emancipation Proclamation might cease to be of any further vitality as it was a war measure that Lincoln undertook through this powers as Commander in Chief.

 

[Scott]

I listened to the clip again. The CNN story set up as a criticism or "fact check" of the film and Mr. Foner really say's the film is not enough of the whole story. He does speak from authority on the subject, but the film is called "Lincoln", is only 149 minutes long, and only covering January through April 1865.

I don't think the audience is poorer for watching or misinformed on the subject.

 

[jazzeum]

Take a look here for suggested reading recommendations, http://cwmemory.com/2012/11/08/essential-lincoln-reading/

As I mention in the comment section, I love Ronald White's bio, as well as anything else by him.

 

[Partner]

Here is another review

 

[The Military Workshop]

I think it was Letterman Show which did a spoof Lincoln trailer but in the style of Bond. Very funny.

 

[Terp152]

Saw the movie this evening and thought it well done. Presents the rationale for the 13th ammendment and the many underlying difficulties very well. Agree with movie reviewers (that doesn't happen very often) that Tommy Lee Jones almost steals the movie. He has an uncanny physical resemblance to pics I've seen of Senator Stevens. Theater was packed, which surprised me, and audience gave an applause at the end. Well worth seeing. Chris

 

[Scott]

Saw the movie this evening and thought it well done. Presents the rationale for the 13th ammendment and the many underlying difficulties very well. Agree with movie reviewers (that doesn't happen very often) that Tommy Lee Jones almost steals the movie. He has an uncanny physical resemblance to pics I've seen of Senator Stevens. Theater was packed, which surprised me, and audience gave an applause at the end. Well worth seeing. Chris

It's hard to miss Jones performance. Stevens has been played in two earlier films as a bad guy. Once as "Austin Stoneman" in Birth of a Nation. Once with Lionel Barrymore in Tennessee Johnson

 

[bromhead]

saw the opening,,matinee prices certainly arent what they were a few years ago,,plus the hideous drivil of commercials and inane loud previews,,I totally enjoyed the film,,the voice contraversy as to lewis version is nonsense,,

 

[Scott]

I'd like to see a movie just about those three "fellers" that went around scaring up votes. Same actors to. I thought Spader was Rob Schneider
at first.

I did check to see if Robert Lincoln was really at Appomattox. Yep.

 

[jazzeum]

Here's an article in the Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/...sm-for-giving-a-voice-to-Abraham-Lincoln.html, about the voice Daniel Day Lewis used to portray Lincoln, which is generally correct, notwithstanding the criticism.

 

[wds0855]

My family and I really enjoyed this film. I thought it was very well done. What I found really strange though, is that I do not recall them mentioning the Vice President, Andrew Johnson. Especailly since they "won" him over as a staunch Democrat. I do not remember them ever saying his name. It's as if he didn't even exist. I thought that was a major flaw in this film. To exclude his entire character especially since he would be the next President of the US.
But I'm not a film director, so what do I know.

Waly

 

[jazzeum]

Here's an article by Professor Kate Masur of Northwestern History about how African-Americans are portrayed in the movie, Spielberg's Lincoln Passive Black Characters.

Although you may be inclined to initially pooh-pooh this, I suggest you read her article as there was a lot of self-emancipation happening even before the Emancipation Proclamation.

 

[Scott]

Here's an article by Professor Kate Masur of Northwestern History about how African-Americans are portrayed in the movie, Spielberg's Lincoln Passive Black Characters.

Although you may be inclined to initially pooh-pooh this, I suggest you read her article as there was a lot of self-emancipation happening even before the Emancipation Proclamation.

Thanks for the link. Not picking a fight with YOU Jazz. Some people want the movie to be from Jamestown to the Lincoln Memorial!

Again, the movie is called Lincoln and is only 149 minutes and shows from January to April 1865. The black characters portrayed were soldiers and paid servants.

 

[jazzeum]

Lincoln was a man and like many men he was not perfect. Hagiography, like you find in the Goodwin book, does not really serve anyone's interest.

As far as the black people being portrayed as servants and soldiers, that's what a majority were at the time so I don't grab your point.

The more you find out about the man, with all his warts, the more you see his greatness. I posted a reading list. If you start sampling some of the books you'll probably never want to leave.

 

[Scott]

Lincoln was a man and like many men he was not perfect. Hagiography, like you find in the Goodwin book, does not really serve anyone's interest.

As far as the black people being portrayed as servants and soldiers, that's what a majority were at the time so I don't grab your point.

........

I wasn't making a point on the black portrayals in the movie. Sorry my words read that way. These characters were closer to what the black people within the story would be doing, not to what the Professor Masur may have wanted to see. It's tough to be a "firebrand" when you have to make a living.
Lincoln in the movie may have politely "blown off" the black soldiers in the beginning of the story but they did at least get a "voice" in the story. I don't think that Mrs. Keckley, the butler, or Stevens' house keepers' characters were suppressed as to who they really were. This was a far better treatment of Black people than the characters in Gods and Generals for example who were mainly fictional except for Jackson's cook.

It would be interesting to research if there were Black units involved in the Confederate Commissioner incident.(Nice diorama idea.)