Saving Lincoln

A very different angle on a popular figure in history: that of a self-appointed bodyguard. What hits you first is the unique look of the film. Hard to describe, clearly CG but surreal black and white backgrounds project the foreground subjects almost into your lap! When Lincoln makes an address, the stylized crowds come across as evocative, almost haunting. Again, you have to see it to experience it. On the down side, actors did not look much like their historical counterparts but did act well. Also, Lincoln wasn't tall enough! There is clearly some license taken with Abe's statements but probably to work them into the story. I found the length of time one had to stand still for pictures back then excruciating, if accurate. I thought Tom Amandes' interpretation of the Gettysburg Address one of the best in film.

Saving Lincoln (2013) is a film which I had mixed feelings about watching. Watching the trailer, I was both intrigued and puzzled with some of the directions the film took. Having just watched Steven Spielberg's Lincoln (2013) I had much lower expectations for this film. Yet, having invested my time in learning more about Lincoln over the last couple of months, I found it necessary to watch and see what the creators had in mind for this 2013 film. Suffice to say the film surpassed my expectations. Saving Lincoln tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's friend and bodyguard Marshall Ward Hill Lamon, the man who left his post at Ford's Theatre which ultimately led to Lincoln's demise. While nowhere close to Daniel Day Lewis's portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, Tom Amandes' portrayal of Lincoln incorporates much of the cleverness, compassion, humor and charm of the real-life Lincoln and does just enough to be believable. Other than Lincoln, Lea Coco's portrayal of Lincoln's friend Lamon is an interesting aspect which has never been focused on as much in past films. Aside from the acting the movie's cinematography is also an intriguing aspect of the film. The movie is filmed in a black and white background which is supposed to convey a historic feeling to the movie but is mostly hit or miss. At times the green screen look of the movie can seem cheap or cheesy, but at other times the style works surprisingly well as it shows real pictures from the civil war era which brings an interesting characteristic to the film. The films story itself incorporates a lot of historical accuracy of the era. Although the film is accurate for a lot of the movie, I did feel as though it tried too hard to list off every important event during the Civil war era of Lincoln's presidency without much depth. Overall, while the movie was better that I expected it is not a movie I would rave about to friends but it is worth a watch if you are even remotely interested in Lincoln.

I'm sure there's some peculiar reason for this film film to be lambasted by a particular sort of fellow, but I'm really tired of those fellows. I wish there were a way to click a "hide spittle-flecked rants" toggle.

Alas. Not available.

This beautiful piece of work should be shown in classrooms if only to provide a break from the monotony of formal education and give even the most alienated young American a glimpse into a world not unlike our own-- and parallel to it. Where guys-- just guys like you and me-- found themselves having to act with dreadful nobility during a hateful stretch of misery while, all the while, wearing silly clothing. Pomp and circumstance and stovepipe hats and rivulets of blood and men in stifling wool uniforms blown apart by rifled musketry and women wearing linen tents like trade shows for textile millers...

Damn all war to hell. Hats off for Mr. Lincoln. Amen.

(If you liked this review, you'll like the movie. If not, skip it. There. Surely THAT was HELPFUL.)

Saving Lincoln is an unique take on that time period, with authentic photographs of the buildings and people from that era, gave it an unique sense of connection, kinda puts the actors and the viewer back in time, Tom Amandes take on Lincoln was comical, to the point when watching it, I couldn't imagine this Lincoln being elected President, sometimes he reminded me of the Gov on the Benson sitcom, I had never heard of Ward Hill Lamon before, so there were no expectations of this character, we all know how the story turns out, was just looking for some unknown filler to the pvt life of the President, It's a good one time watch, fast paced and well acted.

This was the second picture over the Lincoln's bodyguard, I didn't remember the name of the first picture, but quite sure about the attempt to kill Lincoln at Railway station only, Saving Lincoln embrace a large range of this bodyguard, since the first meeting until the final, it's clearly is about a small budge, using along the picture several sepia photographs from those era, also has many valuable informations over the war, for instance Lincoln blaming himself for 300 thousand lives lost at civil war, discussing the matter of the black people's war as some politicians tried suggest on the heat of the battle, many matters comes to surface, the bodyguard played by Lea Coco is enough good, as Lincoln as well, marvelous portrayed by Tom Amandes, without forget Penelope Ann Miller who already lost her early beauty, the American civil war was the turning point to America's leadership on the eastern nowadays, if the whole country was split maybe today the such position might had not happened, fine picture despite wasn't a big picture, is another look over this magnificent character called Abraham Lincoln!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7