Lincoln (Steven Spielberg) - 2012

This movie is a tremendous achievement by director Spielberg - possibly the greatest of his career.  Would that more of our great directors dedicated time to the restoration of history.  The focus of the story is the battle for the passage of the 13th amendment in the House of Representatives to finally settle national law pertaining to slavery and involuntary servitude.  Daniel Day-Lewis is certain to win the Best Picture Oscar for his portrayal of the president.  Excellent supporting roles are filled by Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Hal Holbrook and James Spader.  The sets, costumes and casting are flawless.  But above all else, the screenplay by Tony Kushner delivers the audience back to 1865.  Barack Obama never faced a Congress as difficult as this one.  Abraham Lincoln was the right man at the right time for this country.  Who is else could have achieved as much as he did in the face of such adversity and such a determined opposition? [JAM 11/17/2012]