Lincoln

GREAT MOVIES: Steven Spielberg's Lincoln (US, 2012) - Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field. An engrossing, intelligent drama built around a seemingly dry piece of US congressional history — the political machinations that led to the passage of the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery — Lincoln is a stirring portrait of Abraham Lincoln but, perhaps more importantly, is a quietly compelling look into the nitty-gritty process of democratic government. Elevated by a marvellous performance from Daniel Day-Lewis as America’s 16th (and, arguably, most beloved) president, this passion project from director Steven Spielberg suffers from his occasional tendency to indulge in sentimentality, but on the whole this confident, well-crafted film rewards viewers who are willing to be patient with its deliberate pace, which slowly builds in dramatic and emotional intensity. RATING: 9.