The "Lincoln" Film

I saw the Lincoln film recently. What do I think of it? I think it was a great film. It was a film for everyone from the history buff types to an average period. It possessed wit, historical information, and a lot of debating. The film talked about the last few months of President Abraham Lincoln's life. He evolved from being more moderate to being slightly more progressive. He finally opposed slavery in word and deed. He helped to pass the 13th Amendment. Like always, Lincoln wasn't perfect (I don't make any justifications for his errors and imperfections), but he was a whole lot better in character and deed than Jefferson Davis and other Confederate leaders. In the final analysis, the Union was better than the Confederacy. The film discussed about the process wherefore Congress allowed the 13th Amendment to be passed, which extinguished the injurous, immoral act of slavery. The full array of the character of Abraham Lincoln was in full display from anger, happiness, humor, sadness, and joy. There were African Americans that played a key role in the Civil War and the White House as well. The actors that played these characters did an exceptional job in telling the President Abraham Lincoln that equality and human dignity is superior to bondage and oppression. I do believed that the charactes in the film should shown more active role. The reason is that African Americans played a leadership role in the abolition of slavery via many avenues (from protesting, fighting in the Civil War, working in programs, working with the President, and other activities. If these facts were more incorporated in the film, then the film would of been that much greater than it already is). In real life, black people weren't passive in that time period. Many black people stood up heroically for Freedom. Lincoln in the film said that America must be a country filled with fairness and equality. Ultimately, though, Abraham Lincoln didn't free the slaves, but dedicated individuals of many backgrounds did. In the final analysis, if you love history, "Lincoln" shows the man Abraham Lincoln as a fallible man, not a demigod. The film doesn't mention Frederick Douglas, who intellectually refuted Lincoln's moderate stance on ending slavery, racial matters, etc.  It presents the complexities of the Republicans and the Democrats and it talks about Reconstruction. It presents the Radical Republicans too as the champions of equal rights, but Thaddeus Stevens compromised a little at one point (in the film. I think the image of Steven's relationship with his housekeeper was stereotypical, but in real life, black people have made great contributions in ending slavery). The film is a display of information and we should critique the movie fairly.


By Timothy