*Lincoln* (film)

*Lincoln* (film)
Name	Lincoln
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Steven Spielberg
Producer	Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy
Screenplay	Tony Kushner
Based on	Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, Doris Kearns Goodwin
Starring	Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones
Music	John Williams
Cinematography	Janusz Kamiński
Editing	Michael Kahn
Studio	Amblin Entertainment, The Kennedy/Marshall Company
Distributor	Touchstone Pictures
Released	2012, 10, 8, New York Film Festival, 2012, 11, 9, United States
Runtime	150 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$65 million
Gross	$275.3 million

*Lincoln* (film) is a 2012 American biographical historical drama directed and produced by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as President Abraham Lincoln and focuses on the final four months of his life, during which he navigates the political machinations to secure passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in the House of Representatives. The screenplay by Tony Kushner is loosely adapted from Doris Kearns Goodwin's 2005 biography Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.

Plot

In January 1865, with the American Civil War raging, President Abraham Lincoln is determined to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery before the war ends and the seceded states rejoin the Union. He and Secretary of State William H. Seward employ a trio of political operatives—W. N. Bilbo, Robert Latham, and Richard Schell—to lobby lame-duck Democratic congressmen for their votes. The strategy faces fierce opposition from Peace Democrats like Fernando Wood and George H. Pendleton, while Lincoln manages factions within his own Republican Party, including the radical Thaddeus Stevens. The film culminates in the tense House vote on January 31, 1865, followed by depictions of the surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln's final days, and his assassination at Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth.

Cast

* Daniel Day-Lewis as President Abraham Lincoln * Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln * David Strathairn as Secretary of State William H. Seward * Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Todd Lincoln * James Spader as political operative W. N. Bilbo * Hal Holbrook as Francis Preston Blair * Tommy Lee Jones as Representative Thaddeus Stevens Key supporting roles include John Hawkes as Robert Latham, Tim Blake Nelson as Richard Schell, Lee Pace as Fernando Wood, Peter McRobbie as George H. Pendleton, Gloria Reuben as Elizabeth Keckley, and Jared Harris as Ulysses S. Grant.

Production

Development began in 1999, with Liam Neeson initially attached to star. Tony Kushner's script went through multiple drafts, eventually focusing narrowly on the amendment's passage. Principal photography, under cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, commenced in October 2011 in Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia, with key sets including the Virginia State Capitol. Daniel Day-Lewis undertook extensive research for his portrayal, famously remaining in character on set. The film's score was composed by longtime Spielberg collaborator John Williams, and the production design was led by Rick Carter.

Historical accuracy

While grounded in historical events, the film takes dramatic license. It compresses the timeline of the Thirteenth Amendment's legislative journey and invents the trio of lobbyists for narrative clarity. The portrayal of Thaddeus Stevens's relationship with his mixed-race housekeeper, Lydia Hamilton Smith, is fictionalized. Historians like Eric Foner praised the film's essence but noted inaccuracies, such as the depiction of the Connecticut delegation's votes and the simplification of Radical Republican motivations. The film accurately depicts the roles of figures like William H. Seward, Francis Preston Blair, and Salmon P. Chase.

Reception

The film premiered at the New York Film Festival and was met with widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers in The New York Times and The Washington Post lauded Daniel Day-Lewis's transformative performance and Steven Spielberg's restrained direction. It was praised for its intelligent, dialogue-driven approach to political process, though some critics noted a slow pace. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $275 million worldwide against a $65 million budget. It sparked significant public discussion about Abraham Lincoln's legacy and the politics of emancipation.

Awards and nominations

*Lincoln* received widespread recognition during the 2012 awards season. At the Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Picture and won Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis and Best Production Design for Rick Carter and Jim Erickson. It also received nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones), Best Supporting Actress (Sally Field), Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and Best Film Editing. The film also won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Day-Lewis and earned numerous honors from the Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Critics' Choice Movie Awards.

Category:2012 films Category:American biographical drama films Category:Steven Spielberg films