Lincoln (2012)
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President Abraham Lincoln faces a desperate political struggle to pass the Thirteenth Amendment and abolish slavery in the final months of the Civil War.
The story
In January 1865, as the American Civil War nears its end, President Abraham Lincoln faces a critical challenge: ensuring the abolition of slavery is codified in the Constitution. He fears that without the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, the Emancipation Proclamation could be overturned by the courts. To achieve this, Lincoln must navigate a complex political landscape, negotiating with Radical Republicans, securing support from a divided Congress, and managing the demands of his advisors. The film focuses on the intense political maneuvering and the high-stakes negotiations required to secure the legal end of slavery during the final months of his presidency.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In January 1865, President Abraham Lincoln seeks to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to ensure the permanent abolition of slavery. He navigates a tense political environment where he must balance the demands of Radical Republicans against the resistance of those who would delay the amendment. Lincoln works with advisors like Francis Preston Blair to influence conservative factions and offers federal jobs to 'lame-duck' Democratic congressmen to secure their votes. Amidst this, his son Robert Todd Lincoln enlists in the Union army. The film depicts the intense debate in the House of Representatives, where Thaddeus Stevens eventually agrees to a moderated position. Despite rumors of peace negotiations with the Confederacy, Lincoln maintains a firm stance that slavery cannot be restored. The amendment passes by a narrow margin of two votes. Following the victory, the film depicts the final days of the war, including the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox. On April 14, Lincoln is shot at Ford's Theatre and passes away the next morning, his final words being 'With malice toward none, with charity for all.'
- First release year
- 2012
- Runtime (minutes)
- 150
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Steven Spielberg
- Writers
- Tony Kushner · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Daniel Day-Lewis · Abraham Lincoln; Sally Field · Mary Todd Lincoln; David Strathairn; Joseph Gordon-Levitt; James Spader; Hal Holbrook; Tommy Lee Jones
- Genres
- biographical; drama; war
- Themes
- Abolition; Political Strategy; Civil War; Leadership
- Tone and mood
- Dignified; Serious
- Premise and plot tags
- Historical Drama; Political Thriller; Biopic
- Source material / true-story basis
- Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Reception
- The film was acclaimed by critics for its acting, direction, and production values, and was considered a commercial success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 90% · scale: percentage · review count: 288; Metacritic · score: 87 · scale: 100 · review count: 45
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Best Actor (Motion Picture – Drama) · Won; Academy Award · Best Production Design · Won; Academy Award · Best Actor · Won; Golden Globe · Best Motion Picture – Drama · Nominated; Golden Globe · Best Director · Nominated; Academy Award · Best Picture · Nominated; Academy Award · Best Director · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was considered one of the best of Spielberg's career.; The film was ranked as one of the greatest of the 21st century.; The film was ranked on several 'Best of' lists by critics.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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