Saving Lincoln

A very different angle on a popular figure in history: that of a self-appointed bodyguard. What hits you first is the unique look of the film. Hard to describe, clearly CG but surreal black and white backgrounds project the foreground subjects almost into your lap! When Lincoln makes an address, the stylized crowds come across as evocative, almost haunting. Again, you have to see it to experience it. On the down side, actors did not look much like their historical counterparts but did act well. Also, Lincoln wasn't tall enough! There is clearly some license taken with Abe's statements but probably to work them into the story. I found the length of time one had to stand still for pictures back then excruciating, if accurate. I thought Tom Amandes' interpretation of the Gettysburg Address one of the best in film.

This was the second picture over the Lincoln's bodyguard, I didn't remember the name of the first picture, but quite sure about the attempt to kill Lincoln at Railway station only, Saving Lincoln embrace a large range of this bodyguard, since the first meeting until the final, it's clearly is about a small budge, using along the picture several sepia photographs from those era, also has many valuable informations over the war, for instance Lincoln blaming himself for 300 thousand lives lost at civil war, discussing the matter of the black people's war as some politicians tried suggest on the heat of the battle, many matters comes to surface, the bodyguard played by Lea Coco is enough good, as Lincoln as well, marvelous portrayed by Tom Amandes, without forget Penelope Ann Miller who already lost her early beauty, the American civil war was the turning point to America's leadership on the eastern nowadays, if the whole country was split maybe today the such position might had not happened, fine picture despite wasn't a big picture, is another look over this magnificent character called Abraham Lincoln!!!

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First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

While this film was no doubt overshadowed by the theatrical release of Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln", it's attempts at telling a story are admirable, with a rather modest performance by Tom Amandes as the 16th president, which serves as the true highlight of the film. Lea Coco plays the role of Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln's self-appointed bodyguard, and merely plays second fiddle to Amandes while brandishing a Southern accent. Perhaps the biggest thing that stands out in the film is its reliance on a green screen for setting and background, which, due to the film's modest budget, is impossible to hide. However, the film succeeds in demonstrating the friendship between Lincoln and Lamon.

I was moved by this film. As someone who has lived in the DC area my entire life, has visited Ford's Theater on numerous occasions, and has been to Gettysburg, Antietam, and other civil war battlefields more times than I can remember, I felt that seeing Tom Amandes' portrayal of Lincoln this evening brought me closer to understanding Lincoln the man than I have ever been. Amandes' Lincoln was not overplayed, but real and genuine. Litvak was bold in creating his Lincoln as a man of faith and emotion, natural charisma and strength. Lincoln's melancholy made him more endearing, not distant. Penelope Ann Miller's Mary Todd was also genuine, a person of real emotion, not the disconnected and distant caricature that she has been portrayed in previous films. Lea Coco was masterful in walking the line between obsessive, monomaniacal protector and best friend of the most indispensable man of his time. No spoiler here, but Coco's finest hour came towards the end of the film in my opinion, when he as Lamon visibly let down his guard for the first time, no longer able to protect his friend. What an amazing piece of art this film is. Seeing the actual images of Civil War soldiers in the hospital behind Lincoln in one scene tapped an emotional well in me as I realized that these were real people, real faces of the men who fought and died for their country, and for this I must say that the Cinecollage method that Litvak has brought to life is a treasure that is capable of connecting us with our history in a way that is unique and of deep value. I applaud the creator and cast for the wonderful film and eagerly await the opportunity to see it again.

Saving Lincoln (2013) is a film which I had mixed feelings about watching. Watching the trailer, I was both intrigued and puzzled with some of the directions the film took. Having just watched Steven Spielberg's Lincoln (2013) I had much lower expectations for this film. Yet, having invested my time in learning more about Lincoln over the last couple of months, I found it necessary to watch and see what the creators had in mind for this 2013 film. Suffice to say the film surpassed my expectations. Saving Lincoln tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's friend and bodyguard Marshall Ward Hill Lamon, the man who left his post at Ford's Theatre which ultimately led to Lincoln's demise. While nowhere close to Daniel Day Lewis's portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, Tom Amandes' portrayal of Lincoln incorporates much of the cleverness, compassion, humor and charm of the real-life Lincoln and does just enough to be believable. Other than Lincoln, Lea Coco's portrayal of Lincoln's friend Lamon is an interesting aspect which has never been focused on as much in past films. Aside from the acting the movie's cinematography is also an intriguing aspect of the film. The movie is filmed in a black and white background which is supposed to convey a historic feeling to the movie but is mostly hit or miss. At times the green screen look of the movie can seem cheap or cheesy, but at other times the style works surprisingly well as it shows real pictures from the civil war era which brings an interesting characteristic to the film. The films story itself incorporates a lot of historical accuracy of the era. Although the film is accurate for a lot of the movie, I did feel as though it tried too hard to list off every important event during the Civil war era of Lincoln's presidency without much depth. Overall, while the movie was better that I expected it is not a movie I would rave about to friends but it is worth a watch if you are even remotely interested in Lincoln.