1.1
The time span of the whole play is from January 1865 to April 15, 1865, which is about 100 days in total. That is, the final stalemate stage of the Civil War, but it includes many major events such as ending the war, reunification, passing the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and Lincoln's assassination.
The first shot is the hand-to-hand combat in the war, which is bloody, cruel, and depressing. Although the atmosphere was slightly eased by the subsequent dialogue between the soldier and the commander-in-chief, it basically established the gloomy lens style of the whole play. In the setting of the plot scenes, most of them take place indoors, so there are many close-up shots of the characters. They like to borrow decorations and changes in light and shadow to express the emotions of the characters, and the expressions are very delicate.
In general, the director is not committed to a grand narrative routine, and the few scenes of major battles are more for the purpose of succession and transformation to promote the development of the plot. If you look at it for the first time, you will not experience the taste of heroic epic, and because the time is highly compressed, the rhythm of camera switching is very fast, and there are many places to jump.
1.2 The
keynote of the music is the classical music style. The piano and violin are widely used, and the American folk minors, military bands, operas and other musical elements during the Civil War period are also widely used, which is elegant and touching the historical scene.
In addition, the sound effects of props are also quite ingenious. For example, the ticking sound of Lincoln's watch often appears. It is said that Spielberg went to the museum specially to record the running sound of the watch used by Lincoln.
1.3 Lines
Appreciation of the lines of this film requires at least the thickness of a special article to complete. It can be said that this is a film supported by wonderful dialogues. The most important dialogue takes place mainly in the House of Representatives. The forces of various factions conducted orderly and intense inquiries, speeches, and debates on whether to pass the bill. It turns out that quarrels can be played so artistically that it can be called a teaching film.
In addition, life dialogues within the First Family, the decision-making meetings of the presidential staff, the exchange of views between Lincoln and various faction leaders, the peace negotiations between the North and the South, and Lincoln's humorous short stories.
1.4 Color
Main Tone: Melancholy
The overall base color of the film is almost immersed in a gray-blue gloom. This impression is ostensibly intended to express the brutality and bloodshed of the war, and the powerful resistance that pushes the bill in reality. As a biographical film, the director did not forget to tell the audience that this is actually a tragedy: the hero is dying step by step.
At the critical moment in the development of the plot, many times I switched from the dim interior to the exterior. The rare sunlight, against the white clouds and green grass, was bright and bright. With the cheerful background music, it seemed like the finishing touch.
2. Storyline
2.1 Main Line: Abolition of Slavery
Slavery has a long history in the United States, even from the beginning of the North American colonies. , and even developed. By 1860, before the Civil War, slaves had grown to nearly 4 million, three-quarters of whom labored on plantations. Slaves made up about a third of the population of the southern United States.
The main plot of the movie is the background: In the late Civil War, Lincoln worked to get Congress (House of Representatives) to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Abolition of Slavery Act. Around this bill, both sides of the war and representatives of various parties launched a fierce game.
2.2 The Thirteenth Amendment The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution
is less well known than the famous Emancipation Proclamation that the Chinese people are familiar with. After the birth of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 and its development process for nearly 230 years, the Constitution Code developed 27 constitutional amendments that have come into effect, providing a solid institutional framework for this nation-state.
The Constitution reigns like an unshakable crown in this sanctuary of the legal empire, the firm foundation of all conduct, a fundamental, authoritative, and quasi-religious text.
According to Article 5 of the U.S. Constitution, the only formal amendment to the Constitution is the Constitutional Amendment. The Constitutional Amendment is an important part of the U.S. Constitution, representing the basic development path and direction of the U.S. constitutional system.
2.3 Colosseum:
The main spatial background of the House of Representatives plot setting is: the Senate Chamber of Congress.
The U.S. Constitution does not directly mention whether the U.S. Supreme Court has judicial review powers. But the passing decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) stated that the U.S. Supreme Court had the power to declare a law unconstitutional and not be adopted. Therefore, in a discussion in the play, it was mentioned that the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Lincoln may be overturned by the Supreme Court, which is based on facts.
To sum up, in the context of the plot, although the bill to amend the constitution has been passed in the Senate, and the Republican Party also occupied the dominant position in the government and Congress at that time, it is very difficult to reach the threshold of passing in the House of Representatives.
2.4 Canvassing is an art
Two months after Lincoln ran for a second term, he began to quickly push the bill through Congress.
In order to reach a 2/3 majority in the final voting session, the Lincoln team launched a frantic canvassing campaign.
This part of the plot is the most controversial part. Although the historical facts may not be the case, it is estimated that it is not far behind.
Strategically, it has contributed to the unprecedented unity within the Republican Party. In terms of
tactics, it launched a comprehensive public relations campaign against Democratic lawmakers. At the
last moment, Lincoln personally launched a warm offensive
. For the key minority votes, Lincoln personally stepped forward, or invited interviews, or visited the door, and worked from family to family. Know it with reason and move with emotion.
3. Character image
Most of the history books write about historical events, but only occasionally write about the characters who played a role in history.
The success of the film is also that, with Lincoln as the center, it has created a group of elite characters of the era.
3.1 Lincoln
In this play, Daniel Day-Lewis's acting skills are almost against the sky, and the multiple images of Lincoln are skillfully integrated:
Melancholic: Lincoln's image in this play is generally gentle, humble and polite, but always gives a gloomy and melancholy temperament. Whether in reality or in the impression of the American people, Lincoln was a hard worker. Including but not limited to: Born in a poor family, first love girlfriend has no fate, the first lady is a noble daughter but is notoriously mean and ugly, has no fixed career for a long time, repeated defeats, lost many elections, young son died early ...
Duan Zishou: There are several wonderful clips in the whole play. Lincoln began to tell the story when everyone was in a state of panic and despair. He was humorous and full of ridicule, which caused everyone to laugh and quickly changed the atmosphere of the scene. . Perhaps thanks to Lincoln's early self-study period, he was familiar with Shakespeare's works, which also explained Lincoln's charisma as a leader from another angle. I think everyone will like this kind of leadership.
Politician: Opposition calls Lincoln "Caesar, dictator" in parliamentary speech. Although in the daily shots, the director strives to show Lincoln's humble and warm side, but at critical moments, he also shows his side as a statesman to the fullest.
Great leadership is a unique art form that requires both extraordinary strength and extraordinary imagination.
Lincoln had a firm, unshakable belief in the goal of his administration—the abolition of slavery. Not only did he find the way to the future before the masses, but he also dared to insist on his own opinions when the elites were at a loss.
3.2 The First Shrew
For Mary Todd, she remains perhaps the most distasteful first lady in America.
Lincoln was born from a poor boy and self-taught. She was born in a family of "Zhong Ming Ding Food". Her ancestors were governors, generals, and big entrepreneurs. She received an aristocratic education since she was a child; Lincoln is simple, humble, and gentle, the first lady. It is notoriously arrogant, manic, and especially fond of luxury. To a certain extent, people's admiration for Lincoln contains deep sympathy, just as Dale Carnegie's evaluation is: the greatest misfortune in Lincoln's life was not his assassination, but his marriage to Mary Todd!
In order to shape the "tough" image of the first lady, the director chose to start with "family affairs". Lincoln "loved children very much", and the husband and wife were not strict with their children. They had four children in total, but three died, and Robert was the only one who lived to adulthood and had children. The death of the child had a huge impact on the Lincolns, and Mary was later tormented by the death of the child and her husband.
During the Civil War, her mother, Mary Todd Lincoln, refused to allow Robert to join the Union Army. In the wartime public opinion, she became the reason for the opposition to attack Lincoln. Even so, Mary still refused to make any concessions, which made Lincoln The president was embarrassed. There are several scenes of the Lincoln couple arguing about this in the film, which is hysterical, abusive, and a mess.
It was not until shortly before the end of the war that Robert was able to join the army. On February 11, 1865, Robert Lincoln, with the rank of lieutenant, was appointed assistant adjutant and served as one of General Ulysses Grant's immediate staff in the weeks leading up to the end of the war, but this position allowed Robert to be practical on the battlefield. The possibility is greatly reduced.
At the same time, Spielberg seems to want to challenge some common sense through this film, and Mary in the film also fully shows the "first lady" bearing.
She was Lincoln's "wizard" and was the first to understand Lincoln's determination to promote the Thirteenth Amendment; although she felt it was very difficult, she quickly changed her attitude and fully supported Lincoln's proposition; Possible opportunities include inviting the radical leader Stevens, whom he hates very much, to his own banquet; when he sat in on the Congressional debate, he showed the keen eyes of a great politician, and in the final voting session, he even counted the votes in person. .....
Through these shots, a veritable "first shrew" on the screen came alive.
In real history, the evening scene of the First Lady after Lincoln's assassination was extremely bleak.
Perhaps to make up for this shortcoming, perhaps to express reverence, after the bill was passed, the Lincolns had a set of unusually gorgeous carriage travel shots. The couple reached a settlement and were preparing their own travel plans. Blue sky, white clouds, green grass, The spring breeze is proud of horseshoe disease. History is cruel.
3.3 Elite group portraits
of more than 140 historical figures
In those days when Americans were least confident in their government, this story shows how miracles and good things can be accomplished in a democratic system. —Written by Tony Kushner
At this momentous moment in history, in the debate over the constitutional amendment, how many 140 characters have appeared, each with a distinct personality, and each one of them counts. Secretary of State William Henry Seward, Republican founder Francis Preston Blair, Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, General Grant, and even Lincoln's "enemies": General Robert E. Lee, The vice president of the Confederacy, the opposition lawmakers who resolutely resisted the passage of the bill in Congress and even threatened to impeach the president, the political brokers who specialize in underground transactions, the media press corps... Golden supporting roles: The great history of
chivalry is all about
Constructed by groups, the most dazzling one on the show is House Member Thaddeus Stevens, played by Tommy Lee Jones.
Stevens was the leader of the Republican radical, from Pennsylvania, the most powerful member of the House of Representatives, and a strategic ally of Lincoln.
He is the devil in Mrs. Lincoln's eyes. Not only is he often at odds with Lincoln in terms of political views, but he also uses the power of the House Budget Committee to investigate the White House's finances; The Democratic Party congressman succumbed; he judged the situation and was able to sacrifice himself at critical moments to guide his confused comrades; he was lonely and indifferent in front of the crowd, but he was well-founded, witty and humorous in his congressional speeches; he was not only in politics The scene was sung in a high-profile way, and he could transcend race and practice the spirit of equality in his personal life. At the moment of the great victory, everyone stood up and paid tribute to the hero. What he was thinking about was to hurry home and give the text of the bill as a gift to his black wife at home. .
6. Ending
When a play ends, the audiences file out of the theater and go home to continue their normal lives; and when a leader's career ends and the curtain falls, the audience's own life changes, and at the same time the historical Processes may also undergo profound changes.
With the passage of the bill, the end of the long war, and the peaceful serenity of the nation, Lincoln's life came to an abrupt end.
In the small dark room surrounded by people, the body lying on the bed was shrouded in white light, as if Jesus had died.
At this moment, he returned to the kingdom of heaven and was already a god.
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