Us Rating: ** 1/2
Be wary of a Steven Spielberg-directed Civil War movie -- without a war.
In this cerebral drama, he eschews battle scenes to focus on President Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his quest to end the fighting and abolish slavery in 1865.
It's an important history lesson -- and, at times, a bear to watch.
Indeed, a large chunk of the film is devoted to Lincoln preaching policy in smoky chambers.
But there's no debate about the acting: Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones (an outspoken congressman) and James Spader (a droll political operative) are all superb.
Lincoln opens in theaters everywhere on Friday, Nov. 16.
This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Lincoln Review: Daniel Day-Lewis' Acting Is "Superb" in "Cerebral Drama"
