Killing Lincoln

KILLING LINCOLN may be worth seeing for anyone with an interest in the basic subject matter, but, aside from a few disputed factoids and other interesting tidbits, one is not likely to learn much or see any really new perspective here. The more interesting stuff--earlier plots to kill Lincoln, etc--is not covered in much detail, and the events leading up to the assassination are not synchronized terribly well. The combination of drama and documentary doesn't work too well either, with Tom Hanks constantly interrupting the forward motion of the film. Some of the supporting actors--e.g., whoever it was that played the young naval officer--play their roles very well; unfortunately, same cannot be said for most of the major actors here. Booth, played by Jesse Johnson, is portrayed as an annoyingly histrionic phony in love with the sound of his own voice. From what I understand, that's kind of how the real JWB was, but it would have helped if less time had been devoted to that twit and more to his co-conspirators, who we are told little or nothing about.

There's just something very contrived about the whole thing. . .

Killing Lincoln educates its audience with the history of Lincoln's assassination without exaggerating or dramatizing any aspects of the tragedy. Tom Hanks narrates the film, which tended to make it a bit boring at times, but it was also necessary to inform the viewer with as much history as possible. The movie also introduced some details of the situation that I wasn't familiar with beforehand. For instance, when I think of John Wilkes Booth, I immediately associate him with Lincoln's death. However, the movie revolves around Booth and his acting career, which gave me a better idea of Booth's identity. I was also interested by the scene where Lincoln told the freed slave, "You are a free citizen; kneel to no one but God." It showed Lincoln's true character and emphasized his humility. Although historical dramas don't usually interest me, I enjoyed watching Killing Lincoln.

Based on Bill O'Reilly's book of the same name, this is a documentary of Abraham Lincoln (Billy Campbell) and John Wilkes Booth (Jesse Johnson) as they head into the history books. Coming so close to Daniel Day-Lewis' amazing performance, Billy Campbell is unable to measure up. Booth is suppose to be a great actor. I wish they got somebody more well known than Jesse Johnson. He does a capable job but he needs a more powerful presence. The surprise comes from Tom Hanks' narration. When it first starts, I thought it was a grave mistake. After some time, his narration grows on me. And I really like the constant repetition of "Lincoln has ______ to live". It's a great way to build tension as the clock counts down. The production is good for a TV movie. I can't really vouch for its academic accuracy. I do wish for more on Booth. Lincoln's story could be trimmed but there is a good sequence of him visiting Richmond after its fall. It's a good watch.

It's fascinating to show in detail what happened during the assassination. "The Conspirator" was angled more towards the Surratts. So I was looking forward to seeing this TV movie. Unfortunately it's only partially successful. The good parts are showing the shooting and deathbed quite in detail. They made Mrs Lincoln act too hysterical.

This is an uneasy blend of TV movie and documentary. Tom Hanks narration should have stuck to vocals only. It broke up the momentum showing him on screen.

The casting it hit and miss: Billy Campbell is too unlined and youthful looking for Lincoln. He is the least Lincoln looking actor in all the portrayals on screen. It's not hard to get someone to look like Lincoln (North & South, Lincoln), but here they really made a strange choice.

Jesse Johnson as Booth is quite good and his looks and get up suit the part.

Liked the blending of real photographs with the scenes.

Overall worth one watch but not that good.

Unike the highly acclaimed, and deservedly so, Spielberg film "Lincoln", this film goes behind the assassin John Wilkes Booth and his wish not only to kill the president, but also to overthrow the American government. The story behind the shot at Ford's Theater which killed Abraham Lincokn on April 14th 1865.

The story is a docudrama, narrated by Tom Hanks, telling about the attempts to kill Lincoln from right months before, until they managed to do so. Interesting film, made for National a geographic Channel, especially for use to historically accuracy and for educational use, based on the best selling book with the same name by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. The film is made as accurate as possible, and that down to where people stood on photos, and it is made as a hybrid movie, which jumps out and in of the story, while also using time to dwell in photos and Tom Hanks as the story teller. Hanks is a descendant of Lincoln, hence Nancy Hanks actually was the name of Abraham Lincoln's mother.

Not only Lincoln was killed on this night, but it was a conspiracy not unlike a coup d'Etat, when Booth run up on the stage seconds after the killing shouting "Sic semper tyrannis" from the stage afterwards. (So dies a tyrant.) After that starts the biggest man hunt in American history as well.

Well worth a watch, and great stuff for usage for educational use, but also compelling watch off others who wants an accurate history telling.