LincolnMovie Reviews

  • Must Go! Based on 37,877 reviews
    Breakdown:
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    Written December 29, 2012

    Disneyesque

    Fairly authentic characterization of Lincoln's times. Enjoyed seeing real debates; wish our legislators still conducted business that way. Glad my wife made me see it on the big screen. Powerful performances by skillful actors and actresses.

    • 6 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written November 11, 2012

    Awesome, Serious, but awesome.

    by

    Daniel Day-Lewis once again wins the Oscar. This is a role designed for Award-bait but that doesn't make it any less of a accomplishment because Lincoln is such an iconic character and the performance was so subtle and expert. Sally Field was the weakest link in a all-around great ensemble cast with many faces you'll recognize who disappear into their characters.

    This movie is a courtroom-like political drama. The script must have been 12 inches thick, the dialogue is just densely packed with wit, powerful monologues and era specific language. This is an All-American classic in the very best of ways and it will almost certainly be a staple for U.S. History classes for decades to come.

    • 15 out of 24 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 14, 2012

    A realistic portrayal

    This film portrays the reality of democracy in action. Ending slavery was idealist intention and regarded as among the great achievements of the American devotion to. Liberty and justice. But this film shows that ideals are achieved by down and dirty political wrangling. The film should remind viewers of today

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written November 24, 2012

    Lincoln Too Lengthy

    by Doc105

    I am very interested in the Civil War era in this country, but this movie should have ended an hour before it did. The private moments between Lincoln and his Cabinet were well done, and Sally Fields as Mary Todd Lincoln and Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, turned in their usual stellar performances, but it barely made the extra hour worth sitting through. Probably worth a look, but if this is not a movie that you say to yourself afterward, "Where did the time go?" This is because everyone around me, including myself, was checking their watches every twenty minutes or so after the first hour and a half.

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written November 24, 2012

    Wow

    this is one of the best movies I've ever seen....Spielberg made the audience on with the movie, as though watching the events unfold as we stood on the sidelines.....i'd see it again. daniel day lewis and sally field should be shoo ins for the Academy Awards...but really the movie should take all categories ...nothing else could have made it any better.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written November 19, 2012

    OK

    I wasn't too blown away by this film. It was not so much about Lincoln himself as it was about politics and passing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the US. A lot of people liked it, but throughout most of the film, I was just saying "get on with it!" The personal touches with his wife and sons seemed to be an afterthought, and I never really got engaged with any of the characters. Even the war scenes were not enough to engage me. I really don't know why so many people are so knocked out about it.

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written November 22, 2012

    Lincoln

    President Lincoln was an impressive historical figure whom we learned about in our history books and from our personal family anecdotes..."Lincoln freed the slaves". He was one political person that we, as a black family, had emotional ties to. The movie and it's delving into the backroom "wheeling and dealing" that Lincoln did in order to influence the passage of the 13th amendment was something the pedestrian student didn't read about. I thank Mr. Spielberg for employing is talents and treasure to bring this vibrant portrayal of a leader who's staunch and unwavering beliefs allowed millions of people, to begin to enjoy the fruits of their labors and mental acuity.

    Ms. Tee

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written November 26, 2012

    Lincoln

    Fantastic storytelling of history, directing and cinematography. Made you feel you were actually helplessly watching him suffer with the horrors of the civil war while being a gentle caring man trying to govern a unruly nation. Really brought a man from the history books to life. It made you see the origins of the disagreements between the two parties and classes which continues with government today. Great movie - definitely should win many awards but also should be required viewing by our school kids today.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written January 13, 2013

    Lincoln

    In effect a big-screen, feel good and largely predictable rendition of story that we all know at least in broad outlines. I was not impressed by characterization of Lincoln -- having read Team of Rivals. There seemed to be little development or arc to the person, and most other characterizations were quite two dimensional. The battle scenes and hospital were about as graphic as one could imagine. The political jockeying to obtain votes seemed pretty reasonable. In summary, the movie is good entertainment and fodder for dinner or cocktail party conversation. I would not give it Oscar for best actor, compared with Beasts of Southern Wild.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 23, 2012

    Lincoln

    Halfway thru the movie, iturned to my wife, and said "I am glad they invented electric lights." That being said, I thought the movie was great - storytelling at it's best. I will have to see it again.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written November 27, 2012

    Hard to say

    As might be expected, the cinematography is pretty, the costumes and set design - gorgeous, the acting (for the most part) is superb, but in the end, the film does Not flow very well. Honestly, I appreciate the narrative that Spielberg and company were attempting to give, but it doesn't come out in the wash. Much of this can be attributed to editing. There are quite few scenes that simply should have been left on the cutting room floor; not for content but for the sake of the movie as a whole. One almost gets the sense that Spielberg clung to, at all costs, certain episodes of the era, or maybe just morsels from an earlier screenplay, even if they ultimately interfered with the story arc in the final edit. Secondly, Lincoln is very much a dialogue-heavy film, which is fine and something that can and has worked well in other projects, but it seems this one passes up several opportunities to neutralize the chatter with some silence, or scenery, or action.

    • 13 out of 21 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written December 17, 2012

    Lincoln Grogs

    Historically this movie was great. It was very long and drawn out without very much dynamic transitions. I would like to have seen more drama vs. "story" telling. Needs to be seen but I probably wont watch it again.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written December 22, 2012

    Not much has changed in Congress!

    At least they finally got good things done, after all the nudges and 'deals' in government!
    Congress ahould be required to watch it and see all the 'behind the scenes gimics played out for the public to watch.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 31, 2012

    Strong powerful movie

    It is hard to put into words how wonderful this movie is. In fact, one really does not feel like they are watching a movie, but rather, like they are in the room with Lincoln. Daniel Day Lewis is not just an actor playing Lincoln, he is Lincoln! Indeed, there was not a single weak actor in the film. One of the best films I have seen in a long time!

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written November 15, 2012

    Oscar for Daniel

    Such a pleasure to see this actor once again master a character. Sally also nailed Mary Todd. The music was inspired but could have been less, and especially more Copeland inspired, less Sousa. Steven has his masterful team of cameras, lighting, sets and costumes do their magic. A more realistic portrayal of the black soldiers and servants might have made me trust the story more but Steven, Doris and Tony had a story to tell their way. The ending is true Hollywood, left me disenchanted.

    • 11 out of 17 found this review helpful.
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Lincoln Movie Reviews + Ratings

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Must Go!
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HeroInMind Lincoln is actually a very interesting movie, I was really into it today

11 hours ago.

LaCretiaM33 Just finished the movie Lincoln. I was impressed. Good job.

11 hours ago.

Wiswell Finally saw Lincoln. Interesting movie – plodding, pensive and emotive, the kind of movie Spielberg was once accused of killing.

12 hours ago.

Bryce_muzik Now watching Lincoln. . How amazing was Daniel Day-Lewis in that movie?. #Flawless

13 hours ago.

BRCLorraineUK Went to see the movie "Lincoln" today! It was good, 2 1/2 hours long, I was like a nodding dog at times trying to stay awake! :)

1 days ago.

Lincoln Featured Trailers + Video Clips

Exclusive Features

Interview Why Tommy Lee Jones Thinks 'We're All Jabbering Monkeys' Tommy Lee Jones sits down with us to discuss what compelled him to take on the role of the intimidating, sharp-tongued 19th century congressman, Thaddeus Stevens, in Steven Spielberg's historical drama Lincoln. Exclusive Cast Interview Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks about never meeting the real Daniel Day-Lewis on set, James Spader talks about his character and Sally Field heaps praise on Spielberg for his directing. Steven Spielberg & Daniel Day-Lewis Q&A Event More Films on Fandango's Awards Watch