When it comes to sharing my thoughts on LINCOLN, I’m not even sure where to begin. The first words that come to mind are “Epic” and “Powerful”, followed by “Must See“. It’s a movie that doesn’t need a set up because it’s a historically accurate look at the last four months of President Lincoln’s life, during which he abolished slavery and ended the Civil War.

I, myself, am into history. I wouldn’t go as far to say that I’m a history buff, but I appreciate the past and learning about how our country came to be. LINCOLN is an eye-opening visit back to what our country was in 1865, which focuses on the president and his struggle to pass the Thirteenth Amendment. Both the differences and similarities in that time and today are striking. 

What was most interesting to me was not the portrayal of Lincoln as the president — we’ve all seen documentaries that showcase him as “Honest Abe” —but it was the accounts behind-the-scenes in LINCOLN, that featured him as a husband, a doting father and an ordinary man that were the most compelling. It was hard to envy his position as you could sense the internal conflict he faced with a nation divided, as well as his own family struggles that seemed unbearable, in their own right, at home. How Lincoln managed this stress and kept fighting for the good of our country irrefutably earns him the title of the greatest president who ever lived.

LINCOLN wouldn’t have been the film it is if it weren’t for the brilliant casting of Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln, Joesph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Lincoln, and Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens — all under the direction of Steven Spielberg.

The acting is superb on every level, capturing not only the look of the characters, but their mannerisms in such a way that makes the film completely immersive. If this isn’t an Oscar worthy cast — I don’t know what its!

LINCOLN is not just a film for history majors, it’s a film for all Americans.

Due to the lengthy run time (2 1/2 hours) and some intense scenes of war, LINCOLN is rated PG-13 and is not suggested for young children. I would recommend LINCOLN to middle school students and up who are studying American history as a baseline age group.

LINCOLN is Now Open in Theaters Nationwide – Go See It!

Special thanks to Disney/Dreamworks for providing me with the opportunity to screen LINCOLN. All opinions are my own.