Lincoln The Movie Essay

In 2012 the movie Lincoln directed by Steven Spielberg was released. At this time in America it was the end of the first term, and soon to become the second term for Barack Obama, who was serving as the First African American US President. In 2012 it was also the first time in recorded history that more African Americans voted in Barack Obamas reelection than whites did in any other presidential election according to the New York Post. Could the time of the release of this movie just been more perfect for the director, or did he purposely release this movie because of the election? This is a film that outlines President Abraham Lincoln’s progression of determination to emancipate African American slaves during the time of the Civil War and

There is a line he says that stood out to me, and made an impact on my personal perspective on how much has changed and can change. “Now that white people have accustomed themselves to seeing Negro men with guns fighting on their behalf, and now that they can tolerate Negro soldiers getting equal pay maybe in a few years, they can abide the idea of Negro lieutenants and captains. In fifty years, maybe a Negro colonel. In a hundred years, the vote.” This line stood out to me the entire movie because it makes me wonder what will America look like hundred years from now. Over a hundred years ago America believed that people were property, and only white men could vote. Now every citizen male and female has the right to vote regardless of race, and enslavement is against our constitution. We Americans look back on that time and think how delirious we were then to think of people as property and white men as superiors to any other race or gender. It makes me question is there something we Americans are oblivious of now that would be considered “wrong”? “Wrong” in its true terms of, dishonorable, immoral, and

Before watching the movie I knew that this was going to be an important film because it was going to be based on an influential President with a powerful message. The movie poster of this film was eye catching with the solid white background and Lincoln’s face in black in white and him starring down. It gave me the feeling of a serious story was going to be told. My personal expectations were that this film would make me feel that passion Abraham felt, and expand my knowledge of how the thirteenth amendment was passed. Spielberg surly surpassed my expectations for this movie. The cast was phenomenal with Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln and Sally Field as his wife; she gives off such a motherly feel and pulls off the first lady just as I would expect her to. Bruce McGill as Edwin Stanton, he was able to play the serious man in politics that seem like he was the type of get it done no matter what it takes man. The costumes in this movie were spot on with Lincoln’s tall top hat and long suit jacket just as I remember seeing images of him when I learned about him in elementary school. Mrs. Lincoln with her big and beautiful gowns that she would wear even on just a casual day. The overall visual tone of the movie was in colder colors, nothing was vibrant and bright. The flow of the