Lincoln - Film Report #3

Last weekend I arranged to go to the cinema with Soda Farl. Here at Titter of Wit Street we are all members of the Picturehouse which means we get a small discount at all their cinemas. There is one within walking distance of here and one opposite where I work. The film we were supposed to go to was Django Unchained. (Traybake refused to go as he is boycotting Tarantin0 these days - I am not sure why - perhaps not enough about Marx in his movies.)

On Saturday morning I attempted to book tickets.  After much frantic texting we finally settled on a time.  SF who is an incredibly pernickety man in some respects refuses to sit any closer to the screen than the 11th row back and prefers an aisle seat being slightly taller than the normal man.  This proved to be impossible as there were only ten rows of seats in the auditorium.  After more texting and telephoning  SF decided we should go to Lincoln instead.  More texting ensued.  There were some seats sufficiently far back but no two seats together.  SF gave up.I didn't and decided to go on my own.

 I have always enjoyed going to the cinema by myself.  The first time I did it I was 17 and I went to the fleapit in our local town.  I felt like the most sophisticated person ever - independent, intellectual, insouciant - but I'm sure if anyone noticed me they thought - friendless, stood-up.   During one term at university, while other people were doing sport on a Wednesday afternoon, I spent  my Wednesday afternoons  in a huge cinema with half a dozen other people also on their own, watching a season of 1970s American films.

So Lincoln.  Well it wasn't as schlocky as I thought it would be apart from one scene right at the beginning. I found it compelling and unlike many people didn't mind that it was like a history lesson as my knowledge of this period of American history is pretty limited. There was possibly the odd bit of clunky exposition, 

"...... here comes some Democrats, who don't suppport emancipation.."

but to be honest I needed it explained to me.

Daniel Day-Lewis spoke really quietly and I assumed this was the way Lincoln spoke however when I saw the BAFTAs last week I realised this is actually the way DDL speaks in real life.  

The settings and costume design were excellent.

Spoiler coming up (but only if you are as shamefully stupid as me)!

Due to my complete ignorance I couldn't remember at what point Lincoln was killed and whether it was him or some other president who was shot while at the theatre.

Overall I really enjoyed and was very relieved that there were no scenes of group snogs.

 

Comments

[Reluctant Launderer]

God, I hated it. Like you I couldn't actually follow anything that was going on; I know the broad picture of course - the fight to abolish slavery - but not the ins and outs of the politics. It was a bit like watching a particularly dull episode of West Wing, without any of the humour. One the plus side, however, I managed to have a half hour nap, which was nice. I swear that nothing had happened by the time I woke up - he was still muttering away and looking a bit bewildered.

[ganching]

I think it's one of those film that provokes a very strong response in people. I hope you didn't snore while having your nap.

[Eugene]

It's funny but I'd never heard of Traybake until I read your blog - just saw this ( http://plaintalking.ie/how-to-spot-an-irish-protestant/ ) and seems it's also a strong indicator of a Southern Prod. Amusing, including the comments, - some of the indicators I think also apply to Northern Catholics...

[ganching]

Eugene you must have been away for too long if you don't know about traybakes.

I liked this link and have to agree that a traybake is a protestant kind of a bakery good.

I always think the CoI is for the kind of people who have sherry before lunch.

[molly]

I've just spent the last hour reading "How to spot an Irish Protestant" and wiping my eyes. It's going to be your fault if I'm late to the dentist this morning---they're very big on punctuality!