Lincoln (2012)

It’s nice to see Spielberg back in his groove. With a legendary performance from Daniel Day-Lewis as the 16^th President of the United States and an exceptional screenplay from one of the best American playwrights working today, Tony Kushner, we are gifted with a marvelous dramatization of how the 13^th Amendment came to be ratified. Of course it would have been more surprising if this film had failed with all the talent involved. There is not a dull moment and it looks fantastic too with glorious art production and costumes. . One could make the argument that the reason this film is as good as it is is because of Daniel Day-Lewis, he pretty much holds up the entire presentation. You could even make the case that with his performance anyone could have directed it and it would have been great, although Spielberg’s involvement guarantees the best in every department. Watching this film on Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday and having just finished watching Barrack Obama give his Inaugural Address made for an emotionally patriotic day. It’s been a long time since feeling this proud about the country I’ve been born in. Grade: A.