Lincoln

“I suppose it’s time to go but I would rather stay” President Abraham Lincoln’s last words to his Cabinet, April 14, 1865 (quote from both the film Lincoln and “Team of Rivals”)

Recently I finished the book “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which won several historical awards and is the best book about Abraham Lincoln I have read.  “Team of Rivals” examines Lincoln’s political life, as well as that of his cabinet and generals in the Civil War, many of whom were rivals for the Republican nomination in 1860.  At a time when in the U.S. we have a president who insults anyone who disagrees with him on Twitter, and appreciates the political support he receives from white supremacy groups, I savored spending time reading about the first Republican president whose kindly nature and incredible political savviness kept the United States together and led to the end of slavery.

The 754 page book is too long to fully adapt into a film (though it would be a fascinating miniseries) so Tony Kushner’s screenplay for the Steven Spielberg film Lincoln takes about 10 pages from the book and focuses primarily on the battle to pass the Thirteenth Amendment (to end slavery) in Congress, while referencing some of the other events in the book.  This makes the film and book companion pieces more than an adaptation and an essential dual experience for anyone interested in either Lincoln or the period.

If this film were made a generation ago it might be hard to imagine Spielberg directing it as he was known for his expertise at thrilling audiences with much lighter material like the Indiana Jones series, Jaws, and Jurassic Park among others.  However Spielberg’s ability to relate to audiences through humor in those films as well as with more emotional material such as E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind helped him when he moved to more dramatic films.  When Spielberg made the excellent holocaust drama Schindler’s List in 1993 the world began to see him differently, setting him up perfectly for this film.  Amistad, an underrated Spielberg film from 1997, had some powerful scenes showing slaves being kidnapped and on boats being transported to America.

I think Spielberg revered Lincoln so much as they have much in common.  Both men were underestimated, have enormous empathy and could admit when they make mistakes and both could overcome difficult obstacles while actively using their kindness and humility.

Liam Neeson, who starred in Schindler’s List, was attached to the film when it entered development but eventually dropped out saying he felt he had aged out of the role.  As Lincoln was in his mid-fifties during the period covered and at the time of filming in late 2011 Neeson was 59 I would have to disagree.  I am curious how Neeson would have interpreted the role as he has the stature and presence.  However it is no disappointment at all that another Irish actor, Daniel Day Lewis, brought Lincoln back to life for us.  Daniel Day Lewis is famously picky with his material, only working once every few years due to the massive preparation for each role.  Lincoln, a man driven by his decency, is a different kettle of fish for Day Lewis as his work in There Will Be Blood, Gangs of New York, and Phantom Thread are of very cold and something ruthless men.  Day Lewis won his third Academy Award for Best Actor for Lincoln.  Thanks to Day Lewis’ work when I think of Lincoln I can hear his high voice, see his sleepy eyes, and his stooped demeanor which perfectly matches Kearns’ description in the book.  Also Day Lewis is more lanky than Neeson, which is similar to the actual Lincoln, and embodies a good natured man who is kind to others despite carrying an enormous burden and has suffered (Lincoln had lost his son about two years prior, in addition to the deaths of many friends and his mother when he was young).

Sally Field is an interesting choice to play Mary Todd Lincoln.  Although she is the right height she is much older than Day Lewis, even though Todd was in actuality 10 years younger than Lincoln.  Field conveys Todd’s ongoing pain over the loss of her son a couple of years prior, along with her frustration in being unable to connect completely with her husband.  Mary also seems more self-aware than she is usually portrayed as in historical books, which is perpetually insecure and with little control over her emotions.  Todd’s fear of losing Robert as well seems especially tragic with the knowledge that he later had her committed to an asylum.

David Straithairn plays William Seward, Lincoln’s virtuous Secretary of State and Lincoln’s closest confidant once he came to Washington.  Seward very nearly won the Republican nomination himself in 1860 and did not hesitate to serve Lincoln loyally throughout his presidency, bearing no apparent resentment.  Straithairn is an excellent choice to portray this man, though his role is reduced significantly from the book.  The film does not show that a concurrent attempt to assassinate Seward in his home occurred at the same time Lincoln was killed, which left him badly wounded.

Spielberg’s regular cinematographer Janus Kaminski uses dark lighting.  Although natural light was probably not used, it feels like the rooms have been lit with candles, especially in the bedrooms and studies.

Most of the film occurs during January, 1965 which was near the close of the Civil War.  One of the main conflicts that Lincoln faces is he has the opportunity to negotiate the end what has been a very bloody war with the South, but stalls while he still has a chance to push this amendment through Congress.  If he were to attempt to do so afterwards Lincoln would probably not be able to attain the votes he would need since the members of Congress from the southern states were largely pro-slavery. Lincoln needs all the Republican members of Congress and 20 votes from the Democratic side to pass the amendment and uses an enormous array of tactics to get people to pass the vote.  Refreshingly those who support slavery are not shown as evil (the Southern economy is considered to be dependent on it) and Lincoln actively listens to each one’s point of view.  In many cases the Congressmen are preferring the opportunity for the imminent peace with the South over abolishing slavery in order to protect their loved ones. 

Despite the prestige of the office, Lincoln clearly does not feel superior to anyone else and never belittles anyone, even in the rare moments where he expresses anger.  He uses folksy language much of the time, interestingly using the word “ain’t”, which is widely considered at minimum an informal word, and in many cases grammatically substandard.  Lincoln, due in part to his background as a lawyer, understands that the Emancipation Proclamation, which was an Executive Order freeing the slaves, could potentially be overridden and even acknowledges that he may have overreached with his presidential power in issuing it necessitating the need to secure the end of slavery with an amendment put through Congress.

Lincoln tendency to put people’s guard’s down with funny stories is used repeatedly in the film and Day Lewis uses perfect timing to carefully build his tales to their ironic punchlines.  One of the funnier moments in the film is when Secretary Stanton, played by Bruce McGill, refuses to listen to one of Lincoln’s stories while receiving reports from the field.

Where Lincoln is perhaps most troubled is in his family life.  Lincoln had a total of four sons, Robert, Edward, Willie, and Tad.  Edward died at age 3 before Willie was born and is not mentioned in the film.  Willie died in 1862 at age 11 and it has left a huge mark on the family.  Lincoln is warm with his son Tad who is 11 at the time of the story, but has a difficult relationship with his older son Robert, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who feels a need to serve in the Civil War.  In one scene Lincoln is much friendlier to the men in a hospital than to his own son.  During this section Lincoln even slaps Robert during a disagreement.  Lincoln wants to honor the boy’s wishes to serve but is also caught in not wanting to take another son from Mary.  “Team of Rivals” repeatedly emphasizes that Lincoln often would spend evenings talking with Seward to Mary’s consternation.  The book suggests that Lincoln did this to avoid her combative personality.  This is represented in one scene in which Lincoln walks out of a difficult conversation with Mary without excusing himself when a battle he needs to monitor commences.  In his final scene with Mary he tells her they must try to be happier.

Interestingly the relationship with Seward is less prominent than I would have expected given its emphasis in the book.  Salmon Chase, who is a crucial character in the book as the thrice widowed former Governor of Ohio, former Secretary of the Treasury, and who was Chief Justice at the time the film is set, who had strong presidential ambitions of his own, is nowhere to be seen here, despite having strong anti-slavery views. 

The abolitionists are represented by Thaddeus Stevens, played with vigor by the always energetic Tommy Lee Jones, who has a lot of fun with Kushner’s literate dialogue, especially in the scenes in Congress.  Lincoln is of course not in these scenes and it gives Jones the stage.  The suggestion that Stevens is fighting this battle on behalf of his housekeeper who he is involved with gives it just the right amount of poignancy. 

Some of the funnier moments are with the three lobbyists that Seward brings on to sway Democratic votes.  James Spader, as William Bilbo, is the true stand out with his dirty hands, bushy moustache and much more gravelly voice than he usually has being absolutely shameless in his tactics.  I never would have thought of him for this part but it is brilliant.

Jared Harris, the son of the late actor Richard Harris, plays General Grant, later an effective president himself.  Harris was excellent as Captain Crozier in the AMC series The Terror earlier this year.

Below are a few scenes worth mentioning in the body of the film:

The film opens with the disturbing sight of a Civil War battle being settled in hand to hand combat in a dirty river.  All the Union soldiers are African American.

Lincoln’s introduction to the audience occurs right afterwards as he is seen from behind speaking to African American soldiers.  Lincoln speaks with, instead of at them, using humor about his haircut as a way to relate to the men and asking questions about their lives.  The men display their reverence for him by quoting the Gettysburg Address.

Lincoln was known to meet with callers nearly every day and the film includes a meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Jolly offering to assist with their toll booth dispute in return for their encouraging their Congressmen to support the 13^th Amendment.  The scene shows how Lincoln could in fact work with them despite their racist attitudes, instead of just dismissing them.  Mrs. Jolly is played by Elizabeth Marvel who later played a presidential candidate in House of Cards and later the first female president in Homeland.

When Lincoln yells at his Cabinet to procure the votes the language does partially use a quote from the book.  Although it is a touch melodramatic and was unwisely used in the trailer, it is the only moment where Lincoln’s frustrations are displayed.

The piano cue that plays as Lincoln rides through the battlefield outside Petersberg is touching.

A sense of dread develops as Lincoln is called to the theatre and I found myself hoping that Spielberg would not show the assassination.  It would have been too much of a horror to see this lovely man shot so violently so I was a little relieved when instead we learn of it as Tad did while watching another show.  The horror of the poor boy, who has already lost his brother, is no less painful however.

Spielberg closes the film with a look at Lincoln’s second inauguration from March 1865 in which Lincoln calls for unity which feels especially needed now.  The United States may need another leader like Lincoln in the near future. *****