Lincoln perked

Daniel Day-Lewis’ award-winning portrayal of US President Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s historical-political drama is smooth and mesmerizing, conjuring up the charismatic leader’s wide range of demeanors during his many moments of truth.

“Lincoln” focuses on the last few months of the president, who worked unceasingly to have the 13^th Amendment passed during the period. It aims to abolish slavery, a move that was thunderously debated on by the Republican and Democratic parties of the time.

The film does a splendid job of characterizing Lincoln as a wise, mostly unperturbed—but still flawed—person and president. His family life after countless busy hours has its share of tumult and conflicts; a heated shouting match with his wife Mary (Sally Field) and a serious argument with his son (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) show him dealing with festering troubles on another front.

Complementing the great cast of actors and performances (there are also surprisingly impassioned parts by Lee Pace, Tommy Lee Jones and Gloria Reuben), “Lincoln’s” deft focus on the maneuvers and persuasions of the president and his allies gives a clearer picture of the era’s political atmosphere and the attitudes concerning race and rights.

Lincoln’s layered depiction as a suave statesman and a consummate storyteller not only provides us with precious insight into the man’s revolutionary aspirations; it gives us an inspiring champion who, while faced with unfathomable adversity, stood his ground and worked for real change to happen.