Season 3 of the Wire started me on this path, and as much as I hate to admit it, I’ve taken great joy in watching politics as entertainment.  Which means I enjoyed Lincoln quite a bit.

Focusing on the last few months of his life, the movie focuses on Lincoln’s quest to pass the amendment that abolishes slavery.  History tells us the amendment passed of course, the drama, as expertly laid out by Hollywood’s best filmmaker ever, is why Lincoln had the genius foresight of getting the amendment passed before  ending the Civil War (which was already won by the North, minus the formality of the South surrendering).  Surrounded by a Hall of Fame supporting cast (truly too many familiar faces to mention, but don’t be surprised if Sally Field gets a nomination), Daniel Day-Lewis embodies both the mythology of Lincoln that we all learned in elementary school, while making him very human.  The physical resemblance is uncanny at times, but he also nails the Midwestern inflections (I recognized it at least), he made Lincoln an overprotective father, a frustrated husband, and of course, a master lawyer.  My gut wants to say this isn’t Day-Lewis’ best performance, but because it’s soooo different from the maniacs I associate him with, it’s on the list of my favorite roles of his.  And much as I ride for Denzel, I don’t know how this performance doesn’t win the Oscar next year.

More reviews later…