Lincoln (2012)

The critic praises Spielberg and Kushner for narrowing the focus to Lincoln's political maneuvering to pass the 13th Amendment, creating a compelling, talky drama full of personality and beauty rather than a conventional biopic. Day-Lewis's authentic, restrained performance as the witty, devious president stands out as a highlight.

Spielberg's most restrained and interior film is a towering achievement, with Day-Lewis surpassing himself as Lincoln in a focused drama about the fight to pass the 13th Amendment. Kushner's script and the ensemble cast illuminate a sliver of the president's life with surprising power.

Spielberg and Kushner have made an exciting legislative thriller about the political struggle to pass the 13th Amendment, focusing on Lincoln as a shrewd, odd, and powerful actor rather than a pious myth. Day-Lewis's performance captures Lincoln's physical awkwardness, storytelling style, and moments of wrathful majesty.

The film is a splendid, rough and noble democratic masterpiece about a president using political maneuvering to pass the 13th Amendment and end slavery. It places the moral dilemma of abolishing slavery at the center while celebrating Lincoln's triumph amid complications.

Praises it as splendid and masterful, focusing on the nuanced portrayal of politics and persuasion, and Day-Lewis's performance bringing Lincoln to life as a man rather than an icon.

Spielberg has crafted a literate, heartfelt and high-minded film about Lincoln's battle to end slavery during his second term, his best in years. The standout element is Daniel Day-Lewis's masterful, unique central performance as a charming yet weary statesman.

The critic views it as a rigorous, morally complex procedural on political compromise rather than a standard biopic, praising the performances and unflinching depiction of ethical shortcuts while noting accumulating niggles like sentimentality and weak supporting turns.

The critic highlights the film's sharp focus on backroom wrangling and rhetoric around the 13th Amendment, lauding Day-Lewis's complex, endearing portrayal of Lincoln as a shrewd yet weary figure and the balance between sober drama and stirring moments.

The critic praises the film's focus on backroom political persuasion and negotiation over epic war or oratory, crediting Kushner's script and Day-Lewis's subtle, humanizing performance for creating suspense around known history.

The critic praises the film's intelligent, humorous, and restrained depiction of Lincoln's political maneuvering to pass the 13th Amendment, highlighting Daniel Day-Lewis's performance and the procedural drama, while noting it lacks poetic depth compared to John Ford's film.

Day-Lewis delivers an unimpeachable performance in Spielberg's shrewd but somewhat stuffy drama centered on the behind-the-scenes battle to pass the 13th Amendment. Kushner's script emphasizes talk and political wheeling-and-dealing over emotion, resulting in a play-like production that keeps some viewers at arm's length.

The critic finds the film unlikely to stand the test of time due to its dense script, sentimentality, and reliance on saintly supporting characters, but singles out Daniel Day-Lewis's charismatic, humorous, and haunting performance as Lincoln for praise. It is described as handsome and humorous overall.

The critic calls the film an engaging story full of heart, humor and conviction that remains culturally relevant, praising the absorbing lead performance by Daniel Day-Lewis and dynamic writing by Tony Kushner while noting it misses on a few marks.

The critic hails Lincoln as one of Spielberg’s greatest accomplishments thanks to its strong cast and smart, historically rich story, singling out Daniel Day-Lewis’s masterful restraint and subtle portrayal of the president.

The film is one of the best American movies of the year and Spielberg's finest work in decades. It succeeds by focusing tightly on the political maneuvering to pass the 13th Amendment rather than a full biography, with Daniel Day-Lewis delivering a masterful, empathetic performance as Lincoln.

The critic praises the film as a riveting historical epic with strong performances, especially Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln. They highlight the balance of political intrigue, humor, and Spielberg's direction that makes the story personal and engaging.

The critic praises the performances, especially Daniel Day-Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones, and Spielberg's restrained direction, but criticizes the film for whitewashing Lincoln's history and not being fully unbiased. Overall, calls it one of the best films of the year.

The critic notes Spielberg balances melodrama and storytelling, praises Day-Lewis's sympathetic portrayal, but points out the film avoids deeper issues of slavery and turns performances into cameos. It's a contained, non-nostalgic historical drama.

The critic finds the film handsomely shot and well-acted but terribly dull and lifeless, a plodding West Wing episode lacking Spielberg's usual flair, though supporting cast enlivens it.