Lincoln

Daniel Day-Lewis owns this film, he brings not only a grand performance, but quite a fine embodiment of Lincoln.  You have this feeling of seeing history unfold as it happened, not just watching a film of the events.   Tommy Lee Jones also does quite well in his role as Rep. Stevens, brings a cantankerous sense of humor while standing his ground.  That being said, I wasn't totally won over by the screenplay in how it handled Lincoln's wife and older son, though I understood why it was there to humanize the cost of the Civil War exacting on families, even the first family.  Overall, Steven Spielberg handles the material quite well (probably gained a lot of experience from "War Horse" the year before, as well as other historical war films on his resume.  Heh.) 

I suspect Daniel Day-Lewis not only gets a Best Actor Oscar nomination, but brings home the statue as well.  His performance is that riveting.  Plus the subtle touches of his gait when he walked gave Lincoln a deliberate air of fortitude in spite of the urgency he felt in getting the 13th Amendment passed in order to heal the country.  "Lincoln" is definitely a "don't-miss" for simply Day-Lewis's performance.

I give it 3.5 stars, or a grade of B+.