Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
Blue Yeti ·
September 14, 2012 at 6:59am
OK, he's been dead for 147 years, but it's a start. What do you think? Will it be a stirringly beautiful tribute or as engaging as live action five dollar bill?
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Apr '11
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
Even if they mention that Lincoln was a Republican and that he was elected, largely in part to the slavery issue and the southern Congressional walkout, will they mention that the party, at that time was known as the "Black Republicans" because of their stance on slavery and their belief that all States should be Free States. (Or would that be a racist commentary.) While the Democrats wanted all States to be Slave States with a U.S. expansion into Mexico to enlarge their area of Southern Slave States, and the Whigs wanted to allow expansion of slavery along the Mason/Dixon line all the way to the west coast as a compromise.
Sep '10
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
Definitely will see it, though the timbre of Daniel Day Lewis's voice is not right to me. (The voice of the guy at the end telling Lincoln that he's a man for his time resonates more within my imagination.) Lewis as Lincoln assures us of a hagiographic piece focusing primarily on the Emancipation Proclamation. Will they show Lincoln's use of such "extra-constitutional measures" as suspending habeas corpus and instituting a blockade against the southern states months before Congress formally declared war? I doubt it. Surely the Ichabod crank scolding the president for causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands is an odd-ball Ron Paul sort. No? And did you catch the guy saying "Leave the Constitution alone!" (Look at yourselves, Tea Party, the moment seems to say.) ... But, so what? That's what the history books say. That's what I was taught but have since seen through to a deeper, much richer portrait of our great sixteenth president. Lots of popcorn will be needed, I hope.
Sep '10
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
I LOVE Ford's Theatre, and I didn't get there until just a few years back!
May '11
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
Robert Lux
Robert Lux: Liberal adulation of Lincoln consists simply in their seeing in the man a more powerful will over the forces of slavery: i.e., they do not adulate Lincoln because they see slavery as wrongby nature. This is nicely captured in the early Progressives -- it's strongly intimated (as I recall) in Jane Addams's hagiographic chapter on Lincoln in Twenty Years at Hull House.
Any argument from nature for today's liberals defeats their own grounds for propagating the cause of radical autonomy (SSM, etc.), such autonomy being integral to the growth of the state. The smarter liberals, at least, are aware of this -- and the smarter liberals, of course, are the arbiters of all liberal pieties. · 2 minutes ago
This is one of those times when I wish I was still naive and still had high expectations when Steven Spielberg produced and directed a film. Will he taint this important topic with his liberal agenda? I say YES! Does a Nov premiere mean after Nov 6th? If so, then I will try to be less of a skeptic.
Mar '11
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
I'm inclined to agree with those who think this movie will be a piece of liberal propaganda.
I'll see it and hold further thoughts until afterward, but I will say upfront that I'll be genuinely suprised if Hollywood tries to understand this man as he presents himself in everything he says and does in public--that is, as one attempting to uphold the Founders vision and defend the Republic, not as a moral crusader willing to usurp all power and law to progress beyond them.
Aug '12
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
The screenwriter wrote Angels in America. Anyone here seen it?
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The problem with Spielberg is that he does not trust his audience anymore. I have a feeling that we will get some great performances, but a script and direction that will bludgeon us over the head repeatedly.
I want to be wrong. I used to love Spielberg. I love Daniel Day Lewis, and I am really happy to have him playing Lincoln.
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I don't mind the voice, even though BILL & TED has hard wired the way I think Lincoln sounded into my brain. Day's voice for Lincoln is probably more accurate. Probably.
May '12
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
With Speilberg and this cast (Sally Fields!?), it is sure to be chocked full of liberal morality lessons.
Liberals hate slavery but want to enslave everyone.
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
I am anxious to see how Spielberg has handled the challenge of making a movie about a historical figure to whom audiences already have such strong attachments -- not to mention preconceived notions. No doubt the movie will inspire many Ricochet conversations.
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
Thanks for the work you do! The Washington area is very fortunate to have so many wonderful people preserve sites associated with the memory of the 16th president and his times.
Mar '11
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
Lincoln... like General Patton... looks like he has a deep, gruff voice. The photos of both men just scream gravitas! George C. Scott portrayed Patton this way, and Gregory Peck did Lincoln with that deep bass voice. But in real life, both men had high, shrill voices. We automatically associate deep tones with seriousness and grandeur. I have doubts Lincoln could get elected President today, because he sounded more like Ross Perot than Ronald Reagan.
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
There's only one Lincoln for me.
Jul '12
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
Picking up on Mr. Segue's point, I had also heard that this movie will view Lincoln through current sensitivities, which indicates to me that Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will actually be the more historically accurate movie.
Edited on September 14, 2012 at 9:18pmApr '11
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
Daniel Day-Lewis playing a larger-than-life historical figure pretty much guarantees my presence when this movie comes out.
May '11
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
I thought it was against the law to write a book, make a movie or otherwise portray the sainted Abe as anything other than the saint that his hagiographers portray him as.
Or maybe it was only against religion. Or something. Just don't do it or else.
Jan '11
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
Liberty Belle
Robert Lux
This is one of those times when I wish I was still naive and still had high expectations when Steven Spielberg produced and directed a film. Will he taint this important topic with his liberal agenda? I say YES! Does a Nov premiere mean after Nov 6th? If so, then I will try to be less of a skeptic. · 3 hours ago
I'm hopeful, but only that. Spielberg's been very inconsistent of late producing some truly excellent material as well as some total schlock (in 2005, he did both Munich and War of the Worlds; think about that for a moment).
It's possible this is a great movie (and I've loved DDL ever since Room with a View), but the sentimentality of the trailer is.... worrying.
Nov '10
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
How very Kirk: greets the dignitary with officers in full dress uniform, but still has his men with phasers pointed at said.
Sep '10
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
I did not know that! Very interesting, Douglas.
Douglas
Lincoln... like General Patton... lookslike he has a deep, gruff voice. The photos of both men just scream gravitas!George C. Scott portrayed Patton this way, and Gregory Peck did Lincoln with that deep bass voice. But in real life, both men had high, shrill voices. We automatically associate deep tones with seriousness and grandeur. I have doubts Lincoln could get elected President today, because he sounded more like Ross Perot than Ronald Reagan. · 4 hours ago
Mar '11
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
But why British actors to play Lincoln and Grant (Jared Harris, who plays Lane Pryce in "Mad Men")?
Shows like Mad Men and Breaking Bad show that there's crazy numbers of great actors in the U.S.
Although playing Lane Pryce does show that Harris can deal with the heavy drinking...
May '10
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
Hmm. Spielberg is skilled and the subject is powerful enough, but the trailer looks dreadful with Daniel Day Lewis looking constantly Lincolnish -- like he's imitating the Lincoln Memorial, with violins constantly swelling. And Sally Fields??
Say what you want about the vampire hunter, but it was well done and though rife with anachronisms, the portrayal of Lincoln had a light touch and was effective. In the trailer DDL doesn't seem to portray him as human.
Edited on September 15, 2012 at 1:47amAug '12
Re: Breaking: Hollywood Makes A Movie About A Republican President
When all he made were masterpieces, John Ford, focussing on the country lawyer, made the great Lincoln movie: Young Mr. Lincoln. Henry Fonda is perfect; you sense a largeness of soul.
Is Daniel Day Lewis the world's most overrated actor? A supremely selfish screen presence, extraordinary concentration directed entirely on himself. Any two-shot is a Day Lewis soliloquy with an unfortunate bystander. Watch John Wayne: even when he's talking, he's listening, alive to his acting partner. Or Spencer Tracy. Any of the old masters.
Spielberg is a great storyteller. I'm sure the movie will be absorbing.