the 13th Amendment

The creation of the 13th Amendment is what Lincoln should have been called. Daniel Day-Lewis will walk away with his third Oscar for Best Actor. Lincoln, more than George Washington, is the most important figure in American history. For Day-Lewis to not play this part it would have been a tragedy. The role seems destined for him. Supposedly, DiCaprio got Day-Lewis in touch with Spielberg to play this part. The fact that Spielberg and Day-Lewis either worked together or had not been in touch previous to this film bewilders me. However, thank you Leonardo. Day-Lewis brings Lincoln to life, despite appearing very hunched and brittle throughout the film. Very similar to Amistad, Lincoln captures a moment in American history and plays it note by note. There are no cuts to Lincoln as a child or other times in Lincoln’s life. It about the end of the Civil War and his passion for the abolition of slavery. Spielberg reportedly delayed the release of this film until after our recent election because he didn’t want the film to be accused of swaying the election. That, or he wanted it to be released in the Oscar month of December. But for me, that sums up Spielberg. Why not ruffle some feathers? As he has aged as a filmmaker, he has been more conservative, and therefore, more boring. Spielberg can make a film like Lincoln in his sleep, which unfortunately moves his bar higher than any living director. I grade Spielberg more by what he doesn’t do, than what he does do. He has the ability to make films that moves the shape of society and instead he chooses to lap it up for the Academy.