'Lincoln' - Movie Review

Lincoln was first released in November - I'm only seeing it at the movies some four months later. Sigh.

"I never, ever felt that depth of love for another human being that I never met. And that's, I think, probably the effect that Lincoln has on most people that take the time to discover him... I wish he had stayed [with me] forever." - Daniel Day Lewis

 

I'm frequently reminded of my childhood when I watch movies, and while watching Lincoln I had another trip down memory lane. 

There I was as a young boy staring at a book I had received from my parents for my birthday. In the book there was a chapter entitled, Honest Abe. It tells the story of how Abraham Lincoln worked as a store clerk but one day realised he had charged a customer a few cents more than he should've. So - what did the young Abe do? Well, judging from the title of the chapter he didn't shrug and stash the money. No, Abe closed the store and walked "miles" to where the customer lived to pay the correct change. 

In Steven Spielberg's Lincoln we not only witness this morally upright "Honest Abe" (who it seems wasn't above bribery, twisting arms and manipulation in the name of ending slavery!), but also the deconstruction of a longstanding myth that President Lincoln and the victorious North were above reproach. 

And if Lincoln was not reflecting a mythical construct then it certainly wasn't following the typical biopic plot structure either. Spielberg and Kushner manufactured a 500 plus page script which reflects on the last four months of the President's life, rather than the typical childhood to adulthood, rags to riches, story. It doesn't include any flashbacks, nor any "I remember when..." moments. Even the family issues surrounding the Civil War, the death of Willie Lincoln and Mary Lincoln's breakdowns (Mrs. Lincoln would eventually be sent to the "mad house" by her son Bobby) are not climatic parts of the film, but rather they add emotion, insight and depth to the central issue of the 13th Amendment and ending the war on Lincoln's terms. 

Judging by the chatter surrounding the film, it has been astonishing for many to learn of the opposition Lincoln faced within his own party surrounding the 13th Amendment and slavery. Even the American people were conflicted when it came to slavery and the Civil War. The early scene, where Mr and Mrs Jolly (who were anything but jolly) arrive at the White House to petition the President, perfectly sums up the popular view towards the war and slavery. The majority of people wanted an end to the war and weren't overly concerned if that end was met by the continuation of slavery. (We need to remember that slavery had been justified and, for the South, offered economic prosperity. Lincoln was morally against slavery but he also knew that the war mustn't end unless it is accompanied by the end of slavery. If the southern 'rebel' states joined the union before the amendment was passed then there would certainly be no end to slavery. And with the end of slavery came the end of southern economic power.)

So, how is it that a man who received only one years worth of proper education rose to these heights and held borderline radical views? That's a question worth contemplating. I suspect Lincoln's views came from his self education - he educated himself through the constant reading of the classics. This important image of the self-taught man emerges early and often in the film. This is done as the socially unpolished president quotes from books and seeks to tell parables and stories to explain his vision and take the edge off the enormity of the situation leading up to the end of slavery, war and ultimately his life. 

All too perfect an opening scene - this is the sort of thing national identity is constructed on!

However, while the film endeavours to tell the truth behind a dark political standoff in America, the opening scene of the film is one which is likely the furthest thing from what really happened. Yet this scene (where two black soldiers consult the president and the Gettysburg address is recited to the President between black and white soldiers) symbolises perfectly the moral fight behind the film. It's also a scene which will either leave a cringe worthy taste in your mouth, or will make you invest heavily. And if you are in support of the latter then you'll give a fist pump when the Amendment is finally passed (that shouldn't be a spoiler alert for anyone!) and feel tears when Thaddeus Stevens hands the amendment to his mistress. It's interesting to note that Thaddeus did actually have a black mistress but it's highly unlikely he was able to take the amendment home to show her! It’s a nice touch though.  

Believe it or not Tommy Lee Jones works as Thaddeus Stevens, the radical Republican demanding equality on all measures and the vote for all citizens. Tommy really does bring it all to the table in this one. He’s grumpy but oddly lovable and he's able to jabber and trash talk even though he has the stiffened face of an arch conservative. Yes, when it comes to radical emancipator he's got my vote! And the darnedest thing about it all is that he looked like he was having a ball out there.

Same stone-wall face, same awful wig.

Sally Fields apparently had to petition Spielberg to get an audition for this one! (Apparently they thought she was too old for the role.) And if that doesn't make you scratch your head then this will: Daniel Day Lewis wasn’t the original Lincoln, Liam Neeson was. Then again Neeson had played Oscar Schindler under Spielberg, but dropped out of Lincoln after years of research and preparation because he felt he was too old for the role. And if you believe the rumours then Lewis also wanted to quit the role at one point. But I digress, Sally Fields was made for the role of Mrs. Lincoln. You'll have to excuse my love for Forrest Gump's "Mama", but we all know she can throw down an emotional shitstorm of epic proportions. Her hysteria and emotional instability as Mary ("Molly") Lincoln constantly worries her husband as it does us. Was your bottom lip also trembling when she yelled at her husband and swore revenge if her eldest son should die in the war? Or when she told her President husband that he should've thrown her in the "mad house"? Yes, the emotion and depth this character brings to the story is tremendous - even at the end she has us reflecting on the enormity of the moment when she apologises to her husband. The filmmakers took an otherwise cliche aspect to any drama and made it personal for the viewer without allowing it to overshadow the central issue.

Leaving the best for last is Daniel Day Lewis' depiction of history's darling President. How is the son of an Irish-Anglo poet able to reinvent the grittiest and widest variety of American men? First it was Hawkeye in Last of the Mohikans, then it was my favourite - Bill the Butcher in Scorsese's Gangs of New York (where the fascist and racist killing machine hates everything about President Lincoln!), then we had greedy, oil tycoon Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood. His roles are memorable and his characters are colourful because he's able to transmit on the screen the entirety of a person. Lewis brings Lincoln to life - and I can't for the life of me work out how he's able to change his whole shape, frame, stance and voice to match that of the lanky, slightly slumped and reedy tenor voiced Abe Lincoln.

Of all the shocks that this film has in store none struck me more than that of the White House. It’s true that the White House has a folklore which isn’t quite true, but I was still shocked to see how cinematographer Janusz Kaminski brought the building to life with earthly tones and natural light.

Filming of the White House and, in fact, the entire movie, took place in Virginia. The Virginia landscape is recreated to Spielberg's perfectionist best. Kushner's script (influenced and inspired by Doris Goodwin's bestselling biography, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln) possesses the idioms and slang of the time without going overboard and making us beg for translations. 

Thaddeus Stevens: You fatuous nincompoop!
 

So is Lincoln ushering in a new brand of political dramas? Might we finally be drifting away from Presidents only popping up in Oliver Stone paranoia films and B-grade action movies? Lincoln has shown the world that history can be presented in honest and interesting ways.

Less a biopic than a political thriller, this groundbreaking film centres itself on the truth of the time and the question which wracks the President: should slavery be abolished even if it means prolonging the war?

9/10

Bruce Springsteen Live in Sydney (18/3/2013) - Wrecking Ball Tour

It's 7:15p.m. and I’m watching Bruce’s foot tap rhythmically against the smooth concrete of Allphones Arena. Wasn’t it Bob Dylan who famously sat at press conferences and tapped up a storm? I thought to myself before being interrupted by the sound of a guitar on stage. There’s something nerve-wracking about sitting in an arena and waiting for a performer to come out. Tonight’s act is none other than Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Misfit Springsteen fans.

The Bruce I'm with isn’t the Bruce Springsteen but he might be the most knowledgeable fan I’ve ever come across. My Bruce rode with The Boss from Asbury Park, through the rise and rise of Born to Run and into the Red, White and Blue days of Born In The USA. He stuck around for the bubblegum-pop-hits of Hungry Heart and Dancing In The Dark, and he chuckled when The Rising brought Springsteen into the 21st century. Bruce’s wife, Jan, sits next to her husband and wears the kind of gentle smile we all seek in a partner.

Mum and her "Springsteen baby".

Then there's Mum and I. Mum has always seen Springsteen as the triple threat - the artist, the performer and the bum! If you ask Mum about my birth she'll tell you about the nine months leading up where all she listened to was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. And so I was the 'Bruce Springsteen baby' - indoctrinated from my first breath.

By now I’m taking deep breaths and contemplating pushing out a stress baby right here in Allphones arena. Bruce senses my nervous energy, and like the Bruce who will hopefully soon take the stage, asks, 

"What do you think the dark horse is gonna be?" 

"Dark horse?"

"The song which they could do but has an outside chance."  

I stop pushing out my stress baby and have a think... "What was that last bonus song on Wrecking Ball?"  

"Oh yeah, umm..." 

"American Land - that will be it."

"You reckon?"

Sure enough when Springsteen hit the stage, he welcomed us with a - “Happy St. Patrick's Day, Sydney!” - and then broke out into his first number, American Land.

Instantly we knew The Boss was going to give us a show. The E Street Band was 16 deep, and I don’t think I could name all the instruments on stage. The fiddle came alive in American Land and didn't die down until they all took their final bow. Clarence Clemon's nephew, Jake Clemons, took up the thunder sax solos - and while he doesn't have the physical presence of the Big Man, he still held his own up there. I felt tingles the first time Jake raised the sax in the air! 

There was a beautiful moment where we saluted Clarence Clemons. This is the E Street Band's first tour without the Big Man.

It was a show of unparallelled joy. I thought getting tickets two years ago to Dylan would've become my cherished, "I remember the time I went to the Dylan gig in..." line, but Springsteen showed that up. And while it’s true that Springsteen is a good 10 years younger than Dylan (remember Springsteen was touted as the "next Dylan") there's a key difference in how the two prolific artists perform. Dylan wants to be a stripped down, raw musician, whereas Springsteen wants you to jump out of your seat (as he said, "Your ass is going to tell you to jump up!") and shout the words with him. And Springsteen, like Dylan, has an unorthodox voice which makes us want to sing along.

At 63 you might expect Springsteen to be a bit numb to it all. If he sees a poster in the crowd you might expect him to pass over it – but it looked as if he actually searched the crowd during the show to find some signs he could put up on the stage. He's a people person, hence why President Obama asked him to play at the inauguration in 2009. Actually, Springsteen has something of a following with politicians. Reagan, Bush, McCain, Obama, Gillard, Wayne Swan – there’s been a number of politicians who have wanted Bruce to punch their ticket... perhaps to serve as a less than sincere political ploy?

Bruce at President Obama's inauguration.

Not willing to just leave his crowd participation at sign gathering though, Bruce took off a few times into the audience to greet his fans and have them finish songs. A noteworthy moment came during Hungry Heart (which Bruce probably didn't feel the need to actually sing as passionately on because it’s, well, Hungry Heart) when Springsteen took off into the crowd, greeted the audience and then was carried back to the stage! 

Where's Wally Bruce? Crowd surfing at 63!

You get the feeling as the show rolled on that the only way Bruce and the band are able to do a three hour show day is because of the crowd. They feed off us as much as we feed off them – and as the audience we walk out feeling exhausted. Yes, here is the master of the crowd! Some performers have great stage presence, and Bruce has that, but what Bruce possesses is a power over the crowd. He'll show you when to stand, he'll influence when you sit, heck he'll direct the tears, laughter and shouts throughout the night. 

The set list was not what I expected - but they do have enough material to go for over 6 hours. Darkness on the Edge of Town got a lot of attention, and the forceful playing of Badlands shocked me, and proceeded to take me way, way back to another time.

I could hear it again - I could hear my alarm clock ringing, and I could see myself leaping out of bed in a quiet rage. I grabbed my backpack, loaded the stolen money in my wallet and took off for the frostbitten streets of Amsterdam. 

A few hours after I reached Centraal I felt myself sliding down the back alleys of the red light district, off my head and wondering if "these badlands would ever treat me good". I was tired of school, fed up with the bullying and wanted to say "fuck you" to the 4-periods of mindless droning. When I crashed on a bench next to a canal, I pulled my disc man out and chucked the Springsteen Greatest Hits album in. Badlands came blazing out at me and I recall yelling the words down at the ducks in the canal. When the sax solo broke out I left the cold bench of Amsterdam and found myself back in Allphones arena clapping unashamedly. 

The band was electric - as good as the Hammersmith days (the 1975 live album in Hammersmith, London continues to blow my mind). And I'm bold enough to say that Spirit of the Night sounded the exact same as it did in '75. Even the new guitarist, Morello, earned his stripes standing across from Nils and delivering a masterstroke on The Ghost of Tom Joad!  The interchange of verses between Bruce and Morello was worth the price of admission alone. And if the remix to Tom Joad was worth the admission price then Morello’s guitar solos had you ready to fork out another 185 bucks for the next show. 

After Thunder Road and Born To Run, Bruce had a dance...

Sadly, we didn't hear anything from Nebraska - nor anything from The River. It just wasn't that kind of night. It was up-tempo to the max, and while they did mix in a couple of slower songs (My City Of Ruin), there just wasn't going to be enough time for the blues.

What took the prize though, was when they turned on the arena lights and we all sang Born To Run together. Most of the concert was sung as one voice, but Born To Run felt  like the crescendo.

She sang the chorus perfectly!

 It was a show - in every sense of the word. Bruce was all class, even allowing a 10 year old girl on stage to sing the chorus to Waitin’ On A Sunny Day. He chatted with us, made rounds of the arena, celebrated signs in the audience, played his heart out, and he even had his celebrated shower! (Since Bruce runs around so much, he's been known to have a bucket of water on stage so that he can towel off.) 

It doesn’t matter how old they get, it doesn’t matter where in the world you are – The E Street Band is always going to bring it.

Thanks Bruce.