Lincoln - Rotten Tomatoes
A bit to my surprise, given how dull and over-earnest Spielberg's last attempt at American costume history was (Amistad), there is strong consensus amongst the American critics that his Lincoln is very good. Most reviews single out Daniel Day Lewis as being exceptionally good in the title role. In fact, he sounds like a certainty for an Oscar nomination.
Given that the reviews also admit that it is a wordy film, you would have to wonder whether it will succeed at the box office. And also, given the Obama victory, Spielberg's liberal reputation, and the film's concentration on compromise and deal making in politics, I suspect wingnutty types will give it a wide berth over fear of it being too "liberal." (The slightest suggestion that Lincoln might have been attracted to men, which one gay guy writing in Slates thinks is in the film, will probably also annoy those on the far Right, perhaps.) But again, I could be wrong.
Update: the Slate articles on whether his wife was crazy, and what the real life characters in the film looked like, are well worth a look too. In particular, if you want a bit of a fright, have a look at the real life photo of Francis Preston Blair Snr. Looks like proof that Lincoln had to fight zombies, if not vampires!
Update 2: Ha! As I predicted, the first really derisive review of the movie ("It’s a hopeless bore that, in an attempt to humanize an icon, turns him into a mere politician") is to be found on PJ Lifestyle - part of the Right wing PJ Media site.
I'll be on the look out for more sour grapes reviews of the movie from right wing reviewers.
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