Journal #4- The Honest Man with the Tall Hat

 

 

The film I chose for the evaluative writing assignment was Lincoln.  Directed by the well-known Steven Spielberg, Lincoln is a true story based on historical events.  During the time of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, tries everything in his power to end the rapidly increasing number of casualties of the war by abolishing slavery.  In his attempt to pass the thirteenth amendment, Lincoln does everything in his power to not only keep his own family happy, but to change the minds of the prejudice democrats who out-number the non-prejudice republicans in the country. 

Beyond just the plot of Lincoln, the movie portrays our sixteenth president never backing down from anyone or anything, no matter how great the odds against him were.  Abraham Lincoln showed his audience a whole different side to a politician that nobody is used to seeing.  “Honest Abe” is kind hearted, he not only thinks about himself and the people on his side, but also the democrat’s side and everyone who disagrees with his view.  The movie also shows the effects of the Civil War from the view of the people living it back home and how it could be just as difficult as being on the front line of war.    

Personally, I enjoyed this movie for a few reasons.  At an early age, many of us learned about Abraham Lincoln.  We knew in elementary school that he was the sixteenth president of the United States, he ended slavery, he wore a tall hat and was tall himself, and also that he was an honest and good man.  Yes, this film portrays every part of that, but it also shows the stress he and his family went through.  Instead of only seeing the uplifting and memorable parts of Lincoln, the audience learns quickly how hard it was to be not only the sixteenth president of the United States, but the man in charge when his country was fighting his own country.