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Lincoln

  • 20122012
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
258K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,829
232
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012)
As the Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.
Play trailer2:29
12 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History

As the American Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancip... Read allAs the American Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.As the American Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
258K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,829
232
  • Director
    • Steven Spielberg
  • Writers
    • Tony Kushner(screenplay by)
    • Doris Kearns Goodwin(based in part on the book "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" by)
  • Stars
    • Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Sally Field
    • David Strathairn
Top credits
  • Director
    • Steven Spielberg
  • Writers
    • Tony Kushner(screenplay by)
    • Doris Kearns Goodwin(based in part on the book "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" by)
  • Stars
    • Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Sally Field
    • David Strathairn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 873User reviews
    • 561Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 107 wins & 252 nominations total

    Videos12

    Lincoln
    Music Video 3:15
    Lincoln
    Winner: Best Actor
    Trailer 2:29
    Winner: Best Actor
    Best Picture Nominee
    Trailer 2:20
    Best Picture Nominee
    Lincoln
    Clip 1:09
    Lincoln
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    Clip 0:54
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    Clip 0:38
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    Clip 0:47
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    Clip 0:46
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    Clip 0:35
    Lincoln
    "Unite" TV Spot
    Promo 2:01
    "Unite" TV Spot

    Photos229

    Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012)
    James Spader, David Strathairn, John Hawkes, and Tim Blake Nelson in Lincoln (2012)
    Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012)
    Daniel Day-Lewis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Lincoln (2012)
    John Hawkes in Lincoln (2012)
    Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field in Lincoln (2012)
    Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012)
    Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field, David Costabile, Wayne Duvall, and John Hutton in Lincoln (2012)
    Daniel Day-Lewis, David Strathairn, Hal Holbrook, David Costabile, Joseph Cross, Byron Jennings, and Jeremy Strong in Lincoln (2012)
    Sally Field in Lincoln (2012)
    Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012)
    Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Daniel Day-Lewis
    Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Abraham Lincolnas Abraham Lincoln
    Sally Field
    Sally Field
    • Mary Todd Lincolnas Mary Todd Lincoln
    David Strathairn
    David Strathairn
    • William Sewardas William Seward
    Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    • Robert Lincolnas Robert Lincoln
    James Spader
    James Spader
    • W.N. Bilboas W.N. Bilbo
    Hal Holbrook
    Hal Holbrook
    • Preston Blairas Preston Blair
    Tommy Lee Jones
    Tommy Lee Jones
    • Thaddeus Stevensas Thaddeus Stevens
    John Hawkes
    John Hawkes
    • Robert Lathamas Robert Latham
    Jackie Earle Haley
    Jackie Earle Haley
    • Alexander Stephensas Alexander Stephens
    Bruce McGill
    Bruce McGill
    • Edwin Stantonas Edwin Stanton
    Tim Blake Nelson
    Tim Blake Nelson
    • Richard Schellas Richard Schell
    Joseph Cross
    Joseph Cross
    • John Hayas John Hay
    Jared Harris
    Jared Harris
    • Ulysses S. Grantas Ulysses S. Grant
    Lee Pace
    Lee Pace
    • Fernando Woodas Fernando Wood
    Peter McRobbie
    Peter McRobbie
    • George Pendletonas George Pendleton
    Gulliver McGrath
    Gulliver McGrath
    • Tad Lincolnas Tad Lincoln
    Gloria Reuben
    Gloria Reuben
    • Elizabeth Keckleyas Elizabeth Keckley
    Jeremy Strong
    Jeremy Strong
    • John Nicolayas John Nicolay
    • Director
      • Steven Spielberg
    • Writers
      • Tony Kushner(screenplay by)
      • Doris Kearns Goodwin(based in part on the book "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1865, as the American Civil War winds inexorably toward conclusion, U.S. president Abraham Lincoln endeavors to achieve passage of the landmark constitutional amendment which will forever ban slavery from the United States. However, his task is a race against time, for peace may come at any time, and if it comes before the amendment is passed, the returning southern states will stop it before it can become law. Lincoln must, by almost any means possible, obtain enough votes from a recalcitrant Congress before peace arrives and it is too late. Yet the president is torn, as an early peace would save thousands of lives. As the nation confronts its conscience over the freedom of its entire population, Lincoln faces his own crisis of conscience -- end slavery or end the war. —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
    • based on real person
    • 1860s
    • american civil war
    • politics
    • cultural conflict
    • 61 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
      • War
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for an intense scene of war violence, some images of carnage and brief strong language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Steven Spielberg spent 12 years researching the film. He recreated Abraham Lincoln's Executive Mansion office precisely, with the same wallpaper and books Lincoln used. The ticking of Lincoln's watch in the film is the sound of Lincoln's actual pocket watch. Lincoln's watch is housed in the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, Kentucky (not the Lincoln Presidential Library). It is the watch he carried the day of his assassination.
    • Goofs
      In Lincoln's death scene, he is shown lying somewhat on his side, on top of the covers on a bed at the Petersen House (across from Ford's Theatre). In reality, Abraham Lincoln lingered nearly 10 hours and had been put into bed under the covers to keep him warm, and diagonally, because he was so tall he wouldn't have fit otherwise.
    • Quotes

      Abraham Lincoln: It was right after the revolution, right after peace had been concluded. And Ethan Allen went to London to help our new country conduct its business with the king. The English sneered at how rough we are and rude and simple-minded and on like that, everywhere he went. 'Til one day he was invited to the townhouse of a great English lord. Dinner was served, beverages imbibed, time passed as happens and Mr. Allen found he needed the privy. He was grateful to be directed to this. Relieved, you might say. Mr. Allen discovered on entering the water closet that the only decoration therein was a portrait of George Washington. Ethan Allen done what he came to do and returned to the drawing room. His host and the others were disappointed when he didn't mention Washington's portrait. And finally his lordship couldn't resist and asked Mr. Allen had he noticed it, the picture of Washington. He said he had. Well, what did he think of its placement? Did it seem appropriately located to Mr. Allen? And Mr. Allen said it did. The host was astounded.

      [British accent]

      Abraham Lincoln: "Appropriate? George Washington's likeness in a water closet?"

      [normal voice]

      Abraham Lincoln: "Yes," said Mr. Allen, "where it will do good service. The world knows nothing will make an Englishman shit quicker than the sight of George Washington."

      [the whole room laughs]

      Abraham Lincoln: I love that story.

    • Crazy credits
      No opening credits except for the main title.
    • Alternate versions
      For international releases, an additional prologue about the Civil War was added prior to the start of the film. It mostly shows archive photos with the prologue text included in it. This was decided by the studio's marketing department in its research which realized that while many non-American audiences know of the titular character, most of them are not familiar with the war itself.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.10 (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      We Are Coming, Father Abra'am
      Words by James Sloan Gibbons

      Music by Stephen Foster (as Stephen Collins Foster)

    User reviews873

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Abraham Lincoln deserved a better film
    'Lincoln' is one of the bigger favorites for Oscar Awards this year and will certainly be one of the heroes of the evening in Hollywood a few weeks from now. It is made by one of the greatest directors of our time, it tells a big American story and features a big American hero, it enjoys some fine acting and is very accurate in searching into history and retrieving a moment and a story that continues to impact the American social and political fabric until today. And yet, 'Lincoln' did not turn to me into a cinema experience to enjoy. Actually something interesting happens with my relation with Steven Spielberg. The film I liked most is one of his first – the very little known Duel, a minimalistic masterpiece, followed by the wonderful Close Encounters … and E.T. I enjoyed the Indiana Jones and The Jurassic Park series for what they are meant to be – great entertainment. However my personal experience with his 'serious stuff' is mixed. While Saving Private Ryan is for me the best war film ever made, and Schindler's List is one of the best in the Holocaust genre, other stuff looks sometimes pretentious, sometimes too naive. As much as he tries to prove, Spielberg cannot do films about any subject, I mean he certainly can, but not all are that good.

    Most of the action in 'Lincoln' takes place during the month of January of 1865. After four years of Civil War victory is quite close for the North, but the ending would have been meaningful only if the 13th Amendment making slavery illegal was adopted, making the reason of going to war and the temporary judicial war decisions part of the Constitution. Timing is critical, as the nation is tired and aspires for peace and recovery, and without the adoption of the amendment the end of the war may mean a compromise that leaves slavery in place. Abraham Lincoln will make all possible political maneuvering in order to have the amendment pass, in a Congress where he did not have the required majority. There is an interesting dilemma here about using 'unclean' political means in order to achieve a just cause and this is one of the principal themes. There are two problems here however in my opinion. One is that the political intrigues occupy a good half if not more of the film, and what we get on the screen is a painfully long succession of bearded gentlemen under top hats arguing and bribing for the good cause. I guess some of the American audiences are more familiar with the historical characters, but even so this is a long and repetitive succession of more of the same, and even the climax scene of the voting in the House misses some of the thrill I have expected. The other problem is the political speak which is attributed to almost all characters in the film. Maybe the script writers used fragments from speeches, I do not know, but there is too much rhetoric, too many historical sentences are being said by many characters (not only by Lincoln) and even in what should have been day-to-day situations. The overall result seemed to me tiring and emphatic. It is actually the non-political secondary threads that seemed more interesting – for example the agonizing decision of the parents Lincoln not allowing their elder son to fight in the war. This dilemma would have deserved a film by itself, a smaller but maybe better one.

    Much was said and written (even a cover story in TIME Magazine) about Daniel Day-Lewis's impersonation of Lincoln. He is good but far in my opinion from his own creation in 'My Left Foot' or from Joaquin Phoenix's act in 'The Master' (best acting of the year in my view). The way he is filmed does not help, too many frames are looking towards catching his silhouette or making his profile look like the pictures which represent Lincoln in his time. Again, when he is human, when his words are not taken from speeches he looks and sounds better, but this is only for part of the time. Rhetoric prevailed in the building of this role, and Spielberg's scope looks like creating as many scenes to quote, but less to link them in a fluent story as he knows to do that well. I liked much more the supporting roles of Sally Field as a Lincoln's wife, or maybe the wife of all presidents or great men who sacrifice their personal lives for the greater causes, and of Tommy Lee Jones as the radical pro-abolitionist politician Thaddeus Stevens, a man whose life was dedicated to the fight against slavery, but who knows to make the right political move at the critical moment to achieve the legal confirmation of the dream, at a tough personal price with respect to his own ideals. In a movie where so many characters including the one that gives the name of the film are no more than rhetoric symbols, these two living heroes played by the two great actors make a refreshing difference.
    helpful•91
    66
    • dromasca
    • Feb 3, 2013

    FAQ4

    • Why does Abraham Lincoln's voice sound so high-pitched?
    • What are the differences between the US Version and the International Version?
    • Did Lincoln really say his primary goal was to save the union and not end slavery?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 16, 2012 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • India
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Office Seekers
    • Filming locations
      • State Capitol, Capitol Square - Ninth & Grace Streets, Richmond, Virginia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Dreamworks Pictures
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Reliance Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $65,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $182,207,973
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $944,308
      • Nov 11, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $275,293,450
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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