Colourful character: dull movie

Film review: Lincoln (12a)
Running time 160 minutes
Rating:***
If you asked an American to name one British Prime Minister who wasn’t either Blair or a Thatcher, then, grasping at straws, they might inevitably cite Churchill, who cunningly manoeuvred the USA into the Second World War.
Similarly, if you asked a Brit to name a US president who wasn’t either Bush, Reagan, or Clinton, then, just as inevitably, they are likely to opt for Abe Lincoln, best remembered for fighting a bloody civil war over the abolition of slavery.
Both were deeply-principled war leaders and charismatic speakers remembered for their momentous words at critical hours.
Dozens of films have been made about both leaders, and the latest, from Steven Spielberg, looks set to garner a few Oscars shortly.
However, although the subject matter of Lincoln is important and delivered with due strength and thought by one of Hollywood’s own heavyweights, whispered behind hands is the deadly verdict that Lincoln, as a piece of film entertainment, is dull.
How could you make a film about one of the greatest men in history that is boring – particularly as the man himself was complex, interesting, and not without humour?
That’s a question Dreamworks will be asking themselves as the film goes on show and people stagger out after 160 minutes of documentary-style action, introducing us to the shifty world of American politics that some would say had changed little since the 1860s.
Daniel Day-Lewis plays the former Illinois lawyer who became president when the 11 Southern States were resisting Northern pressure to abolish slavery. As well as coping with rebellious Southern States, he had radicals in his own party with whom to contend, and hostile nations looking with satisfied eyes at the country’s struggles.
In addition, he had a wife mourning a dead teenage son, and another son desperate to join up and fight for the cause.
There are plenty of great actors playing big characters of the time, including Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, and James Spader, but, despite all of this, and some brief but graphic battle scenes, the film fails to capture the drama of the age.
The only scene where it truly comes to life is at the final vote in Congress formally to abolish slavery, where every vote counted and every trick in the book was played.
Apart from that, there are also some great set-piece speeches, scenes that resemble paintings in their composition and minor characters that try to give the film texture.
Some might say that Lincoln, the Civil War and the abolition of slavery is too big a film-making task for anyone to pull off, but others have tried big subjects and succeeded.
It’s a worthy effort, good for history, imagery and fine acting, but sadly it just doesn’t come to life.