Lincoln

**Tarbox** · 11-21-2012, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

No kidding; with such a monumental figure like Lincoln, it's not like historical sources are sparse. Why does Spielberg feel the need to rewrite history? Oliver Stone and Scorsese do the same dang thing. Cut the crap.

CAN.NOT.ROLL.EYES.ANY.HARDER

Lol, what was rewritten exactly, professor?

Also, FWIW Sr Spielbergo didn't write the screenplay..

**StClone** · 11-26-2012, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Tarbox

CAN.NOT.ROLL.EYES.ANY.HARDER

Lol, what was rewritten exactly, professor?

Also, FWIW Sr Spielbergo didn't write the screenplay..

Agreed, it is hard to know exactly how history went down as witness accounts to any recent event. Forty-eight stars on a flag was mentioned earlier but the flag was on scene so briefly I couldn't count the rows and columns and guessed it was incorrect. My wife has encyclopedic knowledge of all presidents and loved the feel of the movie and felt that the Daniel Day Lewis was most authentic from her view and the best of any portrayal of Lincoln. Worth seeing and the scope is narrow or else it would have been more than 2 1/2 hour epic and a desultory mosaic.

**Wesley** · 11-26-2012, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by StClone

Agreed, it is hard to know exactly how history went down as witness accounts to any recent event. Forty-eight stars on a flag was mentioned earlier but the flag was on scene so briefly I couldn't count the rows and columns and guessed it was incorrect. My wife has encyclopedic knowledge of all presidents and loved the feel of the movie and felt that the Daniel Day Lewis was most authentic from her view and the best of any portrayal of Lincoln. Worth seeing and the scope is narrow or else it would have been more than 2 1/2 hour epic and a desultory mosaic.

Did she know Bill C?

**DistrictCyclone** · 11-26-2012, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by CycloneWarning

Thoughts? Saw it last night. Guessing that Daniel Day-Lewis might have the Oscar wrapped up.

Was surprised at the narrow subject matter, not at all what I expected, but strong film.

James Spader was awesome. Personally, could have done with less Sally Fields and would have liked to see someone else cast in the role of Mary Todd, but she actually does almost look the part.

I think he'll probably win, too, but I expect some stiff competition from Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, both for The Master. Weird-*** movie, but their acting in it was incredible.

**Bluffers** · 11-26-2012, 08:57 PM

I appreciated the humor of Lincoln which has been lost by many historians. This is a must see movie which will win many awards. I felt the freedoms taken by the screenwriters are not a rewriting as much as a new interpretation of the events of history. The politics of our early years would make many folks blush today by comparison. The story telling, the winsomeness, and the intelectual focus of the man was incredable and the country loved him, even as many writers today work to discredit and write a negitive revisionst history of the events surrounding his life.

**StClone** · 11-26-2012, 11:14 PM

Now that is a lame.

**StClone** · 11-26-2012, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by Bluffers

I appreciated the humor of Lincoln which has been lost by many historians. This is a must see movie which will win many awards. I felt the freedoms taken by the screenwriters are not a rewriting as much as a new interpretation of the events of history. The politics of our early years would make many folks blush today by comparison. The story telling, the winsomeness, and the intelectual focus of the man was incredable and the country loved him, even as many writers today work to discredit and write a negitive revisionst history of the events surrounding his life.

**Sigmapolis** · 11-27-2012, 12:38 AM

It was a good film. Humorous, brought character to a bunch of untouchables, etc. Not sure I'm pleased with the level of accuracy, but it does make good drama and a good political thriller.

I felt it was a bit of a love song to dictatorship, though... some of Lincoln's more unsavory aspects were glossed (suspension of habeus corpus, jailing dissenters in Maryland, poor strategic management of the early part of the war, strong-arming Congress often, Grant's horrific mistake at the Battle of Cold Harbor, Liberia, just to name a few of a flawed man, as all men are flawed) to make him into a complete hero and genius, but I recommend it anyways.

**StClone** · 11-27-2012, 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by Sigmapolis

Not sure I'm pleased with the level of accuracy
I felt it was a bit of a love song to dictatorship.

No way. Without the strong will of one of deep forethought we would never gotten through the era. The South is still today resentful they lost and I doubt would never see it any other way. This is their failing not the North's or Lincoln's.

**ThatllDoCy** · 11-27-2012, 08:49 AM

Great movie, and Daniel Day Lewis was excellent, but it should have been titled The Thirteenth Amendment.

**Go2Guy** · 11-27-2012, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Tarbox

CAN.NOT.ROLL.EYES.ANY.HARDER

Lol, what was rewritten exactly, professor?

..

It seem the reviewer (OP) and another poster both concur it wasn't accurate. Care to enlighten us professor as to why you feel this film is historically accurate?

**liljones13** · 11-27-2012, 12:36 PM

I was pleasantly suprised by Daniel Day-Lewis' portrayal of Lincoln. He brought a personality to a historic figure that you really don't learn about in history. Most likely will take home Best Actor. I was very suprised by the role played by Tommy Lee Jones (no relation), normally he plays the heel/villian role of films very well, it was nice to see him use his shrewd attitude to play an important role, will most likely get a supporting actor nod from the academy. I won't be suprised if Sally Field takes home best supporting actress role for Mary Todd. Yes Sally, we love you, we really really love you..

**Bamacyclone** · 11-27-2012, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by StClone

No way. Without the strong will of one of deep forethought we would never gotten through the era. The South is still today resentful they lost and I doubt would never see it any other way. This is their failing not the North's or Lincoln's.

If you're interested, a discussion on Lincoln, slavery, and the Civil War:

Caller John Thinks Lincoln Freed the Slaves Personally | Mike Church

**Tarbox** · 11-27-2012, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

It seem the reviewer (OP) and another poster both concur it wasn't accurate. Care to enlighten us professor as to why you feel this film is historically accurate?

Nope....You go first.

**CyValley** · 11-27-2012, 01:06 PM

What role does Tommy Lee Jones play? Seward?

If Lincoln had not persevered, imagine what the greatest international challenges of the 20th Century would have been like without a United States. Hitler, Stalin, Tojo unchecked. OMG.

A Confederacy successful in separation from the Union and founded upon the right of secession, how long would it have been before Virginia and Texas made their separate ways (along with other Southern "republics")? Would the North, suffering the fissures of disunion, have become Balkanized?

Lincoln was the man of his time, and just maybe our time, too.