Steven Spielberg, 2012
From the misty heights of legend, Lincoln is brought to earth through this minutely etched portrait of a practical politician, no less great for his wiliness. The temptation is natural to draw a parallel with the final years of Gandhi's life. Spielberg has created a timeless and authentic sculpture, comparable to what Attenborough did for Gandhi. Both men were yardsticks unto themselves, drawing inspiration from their respective faiths, combining lofty idealism with the soil of ordinary life. A distinction could be made in their respective view of means and ends, but that would amount to hair splitting, given the different circumstances.In one of the brilliant moments, Lincoln correlates his ideological core of faith with one of Euclid's axioms. While it is futile to compare the stature of the two men, Spielberg's achievement is perhaps greater than Attenborough's, in terms of aesthetics, comprehension of the subject, and being less sentimental, reverence for his suybject notwithstanding. Indeed, this is the Spielberg of the dazzling historical canvas, Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. No wonder since David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia was Spielberg's first inspiration, which decided him on his choice of career. Tentatively, a great movie.
From the misty heights of legend, Lincoln is brought to earth through this minutely etched portrait of a practical politician, no less great for his wiliness. The temptation is natural to draw a parallel with the final years of Gandhi's life. Spielberg has created a timeless and authentic sculpture, comparable to what Attenborough did for Gandhi. Both men were yardsticks unto themselves, drawing inspiration from their respective faiths, combining lofty idealism with the soil of ordinary life. A distinction could be made in their respective view of means and ends, but that would amount to hair splitting, given the different circumstances.In one of the brilliant moments, Lincoln correlates his ideological core of faith with one of Euclid's axioms. While it is futile to compare the stature of the two men, Spielberg's achievement is perhaps greater than Attenborough's, in terms of aesthetics, comprehension of the subject, and being less sentimental, reverence for his suybject notwithstanding. Indeed, this is the Spielberg of the dazzling historical canvas, Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. No wonder since David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia was Spielberg's first inspiration, which decided him on his choice of career. Tentatively, a great movie.
