Daniel Day-Lewis As President Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln, 2012)
In the acting world, Daniel Day-Lewis is something of a superhero. Any role he plays is guaranteed to be feat of excellent craftsmanship and so, his casting in the role of President Abraham Lincoln in a Steven Spielberg film was breathtaking. As ever, he did not disappoint, and delivered a Presidential performance of such power that he earned himself his third Academy Award in the Best Actor category.
The film specifically looks at President Lincoln’s attempts to end the American Civil War, protect the efficacy of his Emancipation Proclamation, and see the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. In doing so, Lincoln presents a portrait of a man keenly aware of the fate of the “unborn millions” that rest in his hands.
Daniel Day-Lewis channels the essence of the legendary leader in a display that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. He shows us a dedicated man, unafraid to roll up his sleeves and tackle social issues head-on, in the offices of the government, in the streets of the cities, and in the mud of the battlefield. With warmth and compassion, he strives to ensure the rights of all American citizens, and bolsters those efforts with a firm and impressive determination.
