Lincoln *****

One of the very best films of 2012 and a new high point in historical movie-making, "Lincoln" focuses on the last tumultuous months of the 16th President's time in office, when he struggled to amend the Constitution to abolish slavery and bring an end to the Civil War in a manner that would restore the union. This is unvarnished history and politics, where low means are employed to bring about the very highest of ends, and men of principle may tell less than the whole truth if that half truth will help set men free.

Parallels with our own times are rife, although it would be a mistake to draw only topical references from a project so meticulously researched and in development for almost 10 years. Tony Kushner, who won the Pulitzer Prize for "Angels in America," has constructed a towering screenplay, largely based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's Lincoln biography, "Team of Rivals." Steven Spielberg has assembled the very best talent to write, produce, and portray this story, perhaps most importantly Daniel Day-Lewis to play Lincoln, whose Oscar for this performance is already conventional wisdom.                                                                              

Day-Lewis's Lincoln is not your theme-park president. His Lincoln has a high-pitched voice (which carried farther than Douglas' in their famous debates) and a combination of warmth and reserve that sometimes seems odd, but oddly right for the character. Sally Fields captures the emotional and high-strung Mary, torn in so many directions and still grieving for her lost son. Tommy Lee Jones, one of many superb supporting players, brings the firebrand Thaddeus Stevens to life in his struggle to rid the union of the stain of slavery.

"Lincoln" is rich and rewarding, and one movie I would happily see again.