Movie Review: The Lincoln Movie is Propaganda

The Examiner ^ | November 17, 2012 | Davi Barker

[2ndDivisionVet]

With only a limited theatrical release last week, Steven Spielberg’s latest work of imaginative fiction is scheduled for wide release today. I know Hollywood plays fast and loose with history, but when they go out of their way to get the wallpaper in Lincoln’s office exactly right, and use a recording of his actual watch as the sound effect for his movie watch, but pay little deference to his actual statements or opinions… something must be said.

People are seriously calling the Lincoln movie a “much needed civics lesson.” In reality it’s essentially a 2.5 hour courtroom drama about slavery that never happened. Reviews everywhere celebrate the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role, and he should be celebrated. He stunningly and artfully brought the fictional character of our grade school textbooks to life.

The film focuses entirely on the final years of Lincoln’s life, from the tail end of the war to his inevitable assassination (spoiler alert). Lincoln and his dagger-tongued Cabinet bicker about how to end the war and slavery at the same time. The Confederates want to negotiate a peace, and so does Lincoln, but see they’ve just got to end slavery before the war ends, not after… because… well no reason really.

Starting the story at the end allows the writers to conveniently ignore the uncomfortable history that lead up to it. Sort of how “Passion of the Christ” allowed Mel Gibson to ignore anything Jesus actually taught. Here’s some of what was suspiciously left out.

Before the movie began Lincoln imposed a blockade on Southern ports with no declaration of war from Congress. He suspended habeas corpus, which is the protection against unlawful imprisonment. When a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court called this unconstitutional Lincoln signed his own arrest warrant for the Justice...

[the OlLine Rebel]

...which was moot.

[rockrr]

Au contraire

[kidd]

I saw it Friday and I agree with your review.

Aside from a not-so-vague (and seemingly out of place) reference to Obama in the very very beginning of the movie, the movie is completely unfavorable to democrats.

Great acting. An intelligent movie, which is rare for Hollywood. It will reinforce your opinion of Lincoln, not change it, whether it is positive or negative.

[palmer]

There are some really good things in this movie, but it is not the movie I would have made. Civil Wars just don't really support the easy narrative that some of us are holy and others of us evil. Civil Wars are often grounded in making differences into moral imperatives as opposed to differences about which we might seek to resolve either through bargaining or by appeal to the humanity of others.

Bump for later.

[napscoordinator]

Outstanding movie. Just came back from seeing it and it deserves every award they can get.