Lincoln

The executive summary is this: Lincoln is an in-depth look at how deals (particularly the politically dicey 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery) get done in Washington, D.C. It’s a heavy movie by weight and consequence, but it’s not overly idealistic or thought-provoking. There’s just a lot going on, and director Steven Spielberg, really for the first time, doesn’t seem in control of his surroundings. However, the performance by Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln is the best of the year, and one of the best historical/biographical performances ever. For starters, it’s Daniel Day-Lewis, so you should expect a high-wire act. For another, it’s Abraham Lincoln, so you don’t imagine this will be an anonymous portrayal. When an iconic figure is brought to life by an actor the caliber of Daniel Day-Lewis—who may indeed be a caliber unto himself—you expect greatness. But this performance exceeds even that expectation.