If you thought “Lincoln” was a biography or text book story of one of our greatest leaders, you were mistaken. Although it may seem that way in the trailers and posters, the film actually takes place in 1865 during the final months of the Civil War. The storyline is based on the progression and struggles it took to pass the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery. While the Confederacy begins to fall both economically and militarily, Lincoln and his cabinet are debating between peace talks or to pass the 13th Amendment. For many, it is one or the other, but Lincoln sees otherwise. He believes that the amendment is the cure to end to the war, to bring back unity to the country and to instate a new freedom for the people.

Movie shows a different side of Lincoln

This film portrays a different side of Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) in the way he is portrayed in this film. There was more to him than just being the president: he was a leader loved by the people and also a family man. Spielberg makes sure the viewer can see Lincolon’s difficulty as a father and husband when he lets his son Robert Todd Lincoln (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) sign up for the war and has to deal with his wife Mary Todd’s (Sally Field) fear of possibly losing her son.

He struggled with similar situations, if not the very same ones, that we do in our lives. When he spends his time with the soldiers, his Cabinet and even Democratic representatives, he presents himself on a different level through his wit, storytelling and empathy to the soldier’s cause.

Numerous scenes stand out to catch the audience’s attention, such as the debates in the House of Representatives. Pennsylvania Representative Thaddeus Stevens (Tommy Lee Jones) stole the spotlight in the House with his outrageous remarks against the Democrats, supplying plenty of comic relief. But he had a standout serious moment when he argued with Democrat Fernando Wood (Lee Pace) about human equality under God.

Other scenes that were powerful and emotional were Lincoln’s private talks with his Cabinet men and how he lets out his emotions to express why he wants to pass the 13th Amendment and when he makes personal visits to Democrats of the House to get their vote for the amendment passing. He was not persuading them to vote in favor just for the conservative party, but for the nation as a whole to bring it back to unity and to restore humanity by declaring slaves free and equal.

Film will surely generate Oscar buzz

I did not understand why the film was rated PG-13 for war violence because the scenes of the war were short and appeared only from time to time in the movie. But I realized at the end it was not the war scenes but the aftermath — the toll of the number of lives on the battlefield and the constant amputation surgeries that were performed to keep the soldiers alive, sometimes more than once on a single soldier. It is a broader view of the sacrifices that were made by both sides for the causes they believed in.

Steven Spielberg has done it once again, making a movie that is in the race to be an Oscar-winning film for Best Picture next spring. Screenwriter Tony Kushner took six years to write the screenplay by adapting from stage writing to screenwriting, which he did remarkably well. It will be surprising if he is not nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Lewis is likely to be nominated for Best Actor and Jones looks prepped for a Best Supporting Actor nod. Both portrayed their characters believably, giving the audience a better understanding of the stress, pressure and will President Lincoln and his followers had.

The cast of supporting actors could not have been better. You will recognize numerous actors throughout the movie: David Strathairn from “The Bourne Supremacy,” James Spader from the TV series “The Office,” Bruce McGill from “Cinderella Man” and many more. This film portrays more than is usually known of Lincoln from textbooks or documentaries and cannot go unwatched, especially if you are fond of American history.