Lincoln
I believe Lincoln was misnamed. The movie is based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book, Team of Rivals; The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. As you can see, it wasn’t 100% about Abe Lincoln, but about the team he built to pass The Thirteenth Amendment. So when I walked into the theatre I was expecting a Lincoln biopic. What I got was a thriller, where Lincoln schemed and plotted and politicalled his way to abolishing slavery.
It’s a good piece of American history to watch in this election season. It reminds you that Republicans once had a soul. That we as a nation was so divided that it came to guns and cannons to solve our differences. It reminds you that politics is about being uncompromising in your beliefs, but compromising in your actions; bend don’t break for your beliefs is politics is politics.
We also get to hear two of Lincoln’s greatest speeches: the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural. Those words adorn the Lincoln Memorial. You could love him for those words, a Republican. One of the greatest presidents, but one of the most dangerous.
We live in interesting times. Times that come back again. We don’t learn history. We repeat it.
3 of 5 stars.
