Here’s Stephen Spielberg’s speech at the Dedication Day ceremony in the National Cemetery at Gettysburg yesterday (crank up the volume.)
My favorite line? “But we are filmmakers; we are not scholars, we are not historians.” It would be nice if everyone could keep that in mind.
As for Mr. Spielberg’s new film, Lincoln, I saw it with friends over the weekend. A great flick – two thumbs up. Cool stuff to look for: Kelly Leak; Brother D-Day; Dan’s Appendage; King Arthur’s Son; That Amish Kid.
Harry Smeltzer
Bull Runnings 
Sorry Harry but I saw “Lincoln” movie last Friday and was truly disappointing. I think the general public will be bored with it. Yes, it taught lessons on the legislative process during the Lincoln administration but 2 1/2 hours worth …whew. For me it was money well spent …..as a civil war buff….but for all around entertainment..nah.
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Thanks for the input, Paulette. I’ll have to disagree with you in this case. Unlike “Gettysburg” and “Gods and Generals”, “Lincoln” is cinema. Will it “sell”? That’s another question, as I tend to think the general public doesn’t really appreciate cinema. “The Big Lebowski” was a box-office flop, after all!
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Glad you liked the film Harry. I’m looking forward to seeing ‘Lincoln’ and the great cast in it. I think it is good to see a Civil War film made in the ‘Cinema’ way you mention.
Chris
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Hope you like it, Chris!
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Just got back from seeing it. I thought it was great! Everyone played their parts so well. Daniel Day Lewis was as great of a Abraham Lincoln as I have ever seen. He might have been more Lincoln than Lincoln! Tommy Lee Jones was such a hoot as Thaddeus Stevens. Sally Field had some great scenes. The three Lobbyists played by excellent character actors were very funny and added to the color of the period being depicted.
I loved the depiction of how messy our politics have always been. As you mentioned him I wanted to say Bruce McGill from ‘Animal House’ was very good as Stanton. I wish there could have been more of him plus the telegraph office set was fantastic. I liked the atmosphere of waiting for news from Fort Fisher. Makes you want to see a film this well made focusing on him as a war President.
Heck, ‘Lincoln’ had one of the best depictions of ‘Tad’ I have ever seen.
Really nicely done by Spielberg. I think he really got this one right. I think anyone interested in America and American history will really enjoy it.
Sorry to go on about it but I have to say I was impressed.
Chris
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I’m glad you enjoyed it Chris!
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I also agree about the ‘General public’ and your mention of ‘Big Lebowski’. It reminds me of two of my favorite films of all time by Sam Peckinpah- ‘Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia’ and ‘Cross of Iron’ that were total flops with the public but I think really qualify as ‘Cinema’.
Chris
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