From IMDB-
“The Murder. The
Manhunt. The Events That Stunned A Nation.”
(I know, I know, I look like some kind of pre-Cambrian Dorkfish in that first shot.)
Notes ~
Directed by John Gray.
Based on book of same
name by Jim Bishop (full disclosure: I haven’t read it. Link below for it if
you are so inclined to check it out).
As the war-weary,
fatalistic yet hopeful Abraham Lincoln we have Lance Henriksen: a criminally
under-rated, woefully under-used by top directors in Hollywood actor.
“Terminator”, “Pumpkinhead”, “Aliens”, “The Horror Show”, “Tales From The
Crypt”, “Hard Target”, “The Quick & The Dead”, “Powder”, “Millennium”, “Hellraiser:Hellworld”,
“Bone Dry”, “Bring Me The Head Of Lance Henriksen”.
As the egocentric,
southern patriot, actor, playboy, assassin John Wilkes Booth we have Rob Morrow
from “Northern Exposure” and “Numb3ers”. He’s always solid.
As the jealous, caring,
somewhat haughty Mary Lincoln we have Donna Murphy who was Picard’s romantic
interest in “Star Trek The Next Generation Insurrection” and Mrs. Doc Oc in
“Spiderman 2”.
As the stalwart, much
loved (at least in this movie) eldest son Robert Lincoln we have Wil Wheaton
who was Wesley Crusher on “Star Trek The Next Generation” and is The Bad
Astronomer Phil Plait’s mancrush.
Forget the title:
approximately the last eleven days of Lincoln’s life then jumps ahead twelve
days to the last moments of Booth’s life with a quick follow-up of the other
co=conspirators and supposed co-conspirators fates.
Even though constrained
by tv movie time limits this does well with characterization.
Murphy’s Mary Lincoln has
the emotionalism and fragility associated with the real woman.
Morrow’s Booth hints at
the professional family rivalry (father and older brother also actors), sorrow
at South’s loss, anger, arrogant confidence of an actor.
Henriksen, halfway to
Lincoln with his craggy lined face and blue eyes, has a subtle, quiet toughness
about him, ready to forgive the South and get back to being a United States
again. He’s the Lincoln everyone sees in their head.
An almost
everything-that-could-go-wrong-does-go-wrong chain of events: General Grant not
going with the Lincolns to the theatre, an incompetent, drunken, fill-in for
the President’s Guard that evening leads to Lincoln’s shooting as well as the
attempted assassination of Secretary of State Seward and the almost attempted
assassination of VP Johnson.
Watching the long night
of Lincoln’s death is very dark. I recognized people, dialogue, Lincoln’s
pocket contents from reports of the evening.
Downside: some bad camera
work (one scene in particular is distractingly shaky). When having an actor
who’s 5’10”-5’11” (depending on which website you’re reading) playing an
historical figure known for his 6’4” height it might be best to never shoot him
below the knees (not even in long shot). A 5”-6” height change between camera
shots is disconcerting.
Over all, the film is
slightly oversentimental but pays good attention to historical detail and is
successful in portraying the losses of war, friend, husband, father, President
and the birth of an icon.
Just for fun ~ here's the "test" video:
