I thought there was a thread for this Oscar bait already up. ;D

Caught this last night...
And by about forty minutes in, I got up and started dinner.
It was a such a talking head picture, I just listened to most of the middle.
I had a pork tenderloin that wasn't going to cook itself.
Felt like I wouldn't miss much if I just followed along that way. :P

I was surprised at how LITTLE I LEARNED ABOUT LINCOLN in this tale.
But I feel like a scholar when it comes to the 13th Amendment.

And when there was a ton of people in a big room, I'd occasionally glance at the screen.
I feel like this is a film I'm just supposed to admire and shut up.

Some folks say that this one's like Amistad.
And I recall really being into that film when it came out.
Perhaps I should take another look at it.
I recall that film being very emotionally engaging.
There was a trial wuth human lives hanging in the balance.

In Lincoln, it's about schmoozing politicians to get your way.
So, perhaps this is where I differ on comparing those two films.
But, it's still worth a revisit to that one.

Day-Lewis and Tommy Lee get their wig freak on and belt out the speeches.
But I was never emotionally pulled into the material.
And what was with that kooky misdirect in the theater at the end?
For a movie that plays it oh so straight, it felt left fieldish.

Anyone else seen the film?

I thought this movie was a bit of a snooze fest.  

For the most part, the acting wasn't terrible.  Sally Field, however, seemed like she took a page from Vivian Leigh's book of acting (or rather overacting) in a melodrama.  But it could have been the dialogue which was way too eloquent for a film.  Hey, they could have talked that way back then - but I doubt it.

The real problem I had with this film was the weak storyline.  Off the top of my head, I'm not sure how they could have made the story they told any better but they could have started by involving the audience a bit more.  It felt like I was watching this from outside of the room and down the street.  

If this is what Amistad was like then no wonder I have no memory of watching that film - even though I'm sure I must have.  I'll probably feel the same about Lincoln in a few months.

I wasn't thrilled by it either. I am glad they didn't show his assassination but, like Brett, could've done without that misdirection.

I did wonder why it was so important to put off ending the war in order to get the 13th amendment passed. It was something I had never known about history, but I kept thinking... Why couldn't he still pass the 13th amendment after the war was over? It's what the driving story behind the film and I didn't get it. So it fell pretty short for me. And I agree with Michael about the dialogue. It was far too enriched to be believable.

James Spader was good, but simply felt tossed in for some comic relief from a pretty mundane story.

James

I feel like this one is just one of those films that the Academy loves, but to us it's just... eh. I think the acting is really great, especially Daniel Day-Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones. However, I still feel that Christoph Waltz should take the Oscar over Tommy Lee Jones, but that's a whole different thread.

Overall, a snooze fest that was a tad overhyped and over-praised. No reason to see this when Django, Zero Dark Thirty and Les Mis are still in theaters.  

I am glad I am not the only guy who thought this was a little snoozy!

I loved it, like really loved it.  Sally Field and Christoph were amazing.  Like, they made the film more than Daniel did for me.  I liked the story, just at times for me it did tend to drag and get boring.  

I was surprised they actually titled this one Lincoln. But then again I guess it sells better than calling it The Thirteenth Amendment even though that would have been a more appropriate title.

Yeah, I agree, a bit of a snooze fest this one. Some good performances though and for the first time ever Daniel Day-Lewis gets outshined. By Tommy Lee Jones. Damn, he was exellent.

As a film - this was terrible, just a huge snooze fest. I'm not a historian or very knowledgeable on American History, but I didn't find out much more than I already knew and I'd imagine this was even more so the case for an American audience - I also didn't see a new angle on Lincoln as a character or see anything dramatic. So overall, i was neither informed nor entertained.  >:(

Day Lewis' performance, is without question brilliant. But even that, can't save this film. I'd have preferred a full on documentary with Day Lewis as the titular character.