The first full trailer for Spielberg’s Lincoln has appeared on line. I have to admit, I’m looking forward to this one. I actually liked his two films from last year much mroe than most – while neither came that close to making the end-of-year best-of list, I thought they were solid pieces of film-making for what they were. I’m hoping for a bit more from Lincoln, and I guess time will tell, but Daniel Day Lewis looks an inspired choice.
Let me know what you think.
Filed under: Movies | Tagged: Daniel Day-Lewis, Filmmaking, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lincoln, spielberg, steven spielberg, tommy lee jones, trailer |
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Have to say I was very disappointed with War Horse last year but this trailer for Lincoln looks good. Looks like we will be treated to some quality performances too. Refreshing to see a version of Lincoln without vampires…
I thought War Horse was fine, for what it was. Not exceptional, not brilliant, but… a fairly effective lavish period piece. Not anywhere near best-of material, but nice family holiday viewing. And the vampires weren’t the biggest problem with that film.
When growing up, I always thought “cinema=Spielberg”. He always has a particular formula of emotion and soundtrack that works enough that it’s difficult for him to ever produce a sham of a film! Hopefully with a combination of Lewis, himself and Lincoln, he’ll have something worthwhile though. I became a little distracted when watching the trailer, which is probably a bad sign
I’ve really been looking forward to seeing it but I wonder if it will have enough grit and edge to make it compelling. I like the greyish and blue tones runnig through it – great for creating an atmosphere!
I can’t help but wonder if his massive iconic status in the seventies, eighties and nineties works against him somewhat – in that every time a film isn’t as good as Close Encounters, as touching as E.T. as fun as Raiders, as pulpy as Jurassic Park, we feel the need to lambaste him. We might claim he’s “fallen”, but there was a time in the late eighties and early nineties when Spielberg was in a bit of a creative downturn. Discounting Last Crusade, he wasn’t blazing any trails with Always, Empire of the Sun or Hook. None of them are likely to end up ranking too highly on any poll of his work. (Although there is a fondness for Empire of the Sun, even if it’s not one of his “greats.”)
In short, I think Spielberg’s work has been quite good of late. Just not as defining as his peaks. But far from terrible.
I think you’re exactly right.
I try to stop myself from judging him too harshly in that way but it’s inevitable really. It’s the same with Tim Burton.
Burton though, I think, has more firmly settled into a niche. I’m one of the few who really liked Dark Shadows, but I think that Spielberg is at least not as confined as Burton has allowed himself to become. For all their flaws, Munich and War of the Worlds are quite distinct from the director’s other work, for example. And he can do Tintin and War Horse in the same year, two very different films.