Daniel Day-Lewis has been confirmed in Lincoln, a new film by Steven Spielberg

A perfect storm of talent has been forming for that past few years surrounding a Lincoln biopic. I was well aware that a Lincoln film was in the pipe line because of  a Abe Lincoln T.V. series on PBS where they interviewed the screenwriter Tony Kushner.

Kushner, after all, is one of the better screenwriters/writers alive right now. His movie Munich is able to embody and justify complicated Jewish ideas: Israel and Palestine.

Moreover, Kushner said something funny regarding Lincoln. He was terrified in regards to how it would be received because art emulating history can be a dangerous revision of the past.

Most Americans, if not everyone who watch movies, are heavily educated by popular culture historical films.

In my mind, what happened in Munich, happened in real life.  My brother swears by this, believing almost anything he sees in movies. This isn’t because we’re dumb. It is because we believe that you can’t put it in a movie if it isn’t true.

But to get to the point:  Aceshowbiz.com reported in this article that Daniel Day Lewis is taking the role of Abe Lincoln. DDL is known for his eccentric behavior when preparing and performing a role. Staying in character for up to a year before shooting begins. It makes me cringe picturing Lewis walking around his house dressed as Abe Lincoln, but whatever, the guy is really, really good.

Moreover, I hope the film goes deep into the more complicated issues regarding Lincoln. His suicidal thoughts, his compulsive depression, his complicated views on African-Americans and slavery, as well as his inclinations in regards to politics in the Civil War. His murder was intriguing, but often overshadows his importance as a policy maker.

He is one of the most prominent and important figures in American history. The only other figure more legendary is probably George Washington. I’m sure the filmmakers know what is at stake.

-Collin Gilbert