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My dearly departed grandpa was an unshakable admirer of Abraham Lincoln. To him, Lincoln was the best American president and possibly the best American to have ever lived. And while I was often skeptical of my grandpa's undying adoration, seeing him gush about Lincoln is something that I miss a lot. The film Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg, gives me some solace knowing that my grandpa would be as happy with it as I am.
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Welcome to 1865: America is in its fourth year of the Civil War, and Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) has just been reelected President of the United States. The country is desperate for peace, and both sides struggle to deal with the war's climbing death toll. Although the president is under constant pressure to make a deal with the Confederacy, his mind is also occupied with passing the Thirteenth Amendment of the Bill of Rights to abolish slavery. To do so, Lincoln needs at least 20 Democratic votes, something that Secretary of State William Seward (David Strathairn) and the rest of the presidential cabinet are worried about. So while Abe also must be a husband, a father and a friend, he must also be a president, and, well, Abraham Lincoln.
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Before watching the film, I was surprised to learn that Lincoln had a rather high, squeaky voice, and I was worried that it wouldn't work well on screen. But I was completely wrong. Day-Lewis is stunning as the 16th president; his body language, facial expressions and speech all bring the man to life. 
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As the movie began, there were three girls behind me chatting loudly,but as soon as Lincoln spoke the whole theater went silent. He is commanding and legendary but also human and fragile. The magnificent script by Tony Kushner never gets too melodramatic; it is written with amazing authenticity and emotion.
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With Lincoln, Spielberg is in top form. He paces everything incredibly well, and the gorgeous cinematography shows off the perfect production design. There are moments when the story drags on a little, but the performances and direction keep an amazing tension; I got nervous about what was going to happen, even though I already knew most of the history. The supporting cast, including Jared Harris as Ulysses S. Grant, Jackie Earle Haley as Alexander Stephens and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln are also incredible. Tommy Lee Jones in particular deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens. The film is so well researched (Spielberg, Kushner and the actors and crew did research for two years before even beginning production) and put together; I enjoyed every minute of it.
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I admit, Lincoln made me cry. Just a little, but it did. Partly because it reminded me of my grandpa, but mostly because it's just so moving. It reminded me that no matter how fed up I get with American politics or the state of the country, good can be achieved when the right leader brings the right people together. Lincoln is a film about an extraordinary man who, in the end, was just a man who managed to be extraordinary. He loved to tell stories and to be with his friends, and more than anything he believed in human dignity and the power of the American ideal. Although he compromised, he never quit fighting for the equality that he knew America could achieve. So go see Lincoln, and remember how good we've got it because of one man and his determination to achieve equality in the American state.