The Better Angels
The story of Abraham Lincoln's childhood in the harsh wilderness of Indiana and the hardships that shaped him, the tragedy that marked him for ever and the two women who guided him to immortality.
Director:
A.J. Edwards
Cast:
Jason Clarke, Diane Kruger, Brit Marling
Screenplay:
A.J. Edwards
Screening Date:
Nov 01, 2014
Studio:
Amplify
Running Time:
95 min.
| Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.4% | 7.7% | 19.2% | 32.7% | 25.0% |
“A very disjoined film. I never got a true sense of where this was going. A very dark and brooding film.”
“I couldn’t wait for Lincoln to grow up. Unfortunately it didn’t happen in this movie.”
“Too much of nothing and too long.”
“I loved this movie! Yes, poetic rather than prose, subtle rather than obvious. A boy who loves books and cherishes them, while for girls they are little more than posture improvers. They might have well used a rock. How impressions of a slave chain gang have ominous overtones for the future of a great president.”
“This was a work of art and a story of loss. Loss of life and loss of a way of life. Loss of values.
“Very slow, boring, no point other than a poor, sad, difficult childhood. Definitely better as a music appreciation course.”
“Had potential but never come together.”
“I loved the lyricism of this movie. It’s ability to tell a story through music and beautifully understated acting.”
“Why? What was the point of this movie? Until halfway through Lincoln was a mute.”
“A mother and a step-mother who both love a child can nurture a backwoods boy into one of the greatest presidents of our country. Now that’s female power.”
“Too long and slow at times. Good portrayal of his young life. At times hard to follow the sequence of time.”
“Beautifully shot. Can see the hand of Terrance Malick in it. Music fit in perfectly gave us a sense of life in the woods but in a lovely romantic way. Loved the remark about Kentucky getting too crowded. Cons: Opening too long. Won’t do for people who don’t like slow moving, long takes movies. The opening shot is a Monet painting.”
“Too slow with beautiful scenery.”
“Malick is all over this movie, and that’s not always desirable. But here it works well if you abandon expectations of conventional plots, dialogue and happy endings.”
“Scenery of bleakness of life in 1820’s wilderness. Anyone’s life at that time.”
“Loved the cinematography and sound. The dialogue was difficult to understand. Didn’t learn much about Lincoln’s childhood. Loved the fact that it was shot in black and white. The photography was outstanding.”
“Beautiful and a bit too slow at times. Very poetic and thoughtful. You really get a sense of the time period and what a day is like. Really gives us a feeling of how hard life was for a poor farmer and his family. I would have like to see what other books he read other than the Bible and PILGRIM’S PROGRESS. Feels like the strong hand of Terence Malick. Beautiful long shots of scenery. Wistful music, interesting choices. Diane Kruger is spectacular as his stepmother.”
“Beautiful to look at. The opening is a Monet painting.”
“Visually stunning. Slow moving. Impressive score.”
“I hated the way the movie was shot. How many shots of trees from the base up to we need to see? The extreme close-ups were abundant and pointless.”
“Lincoln’s father actually was far more social and outgoing than portrayed in the film. He often served as a juror in the nearby town, which may have inspired Abe to go into law.”
“A real departure in the Bio picture department but beautiful and moving. Not so much Abe Lincoln but very sensitive boy of the time.”
“What’s the point?”
“A very slow, indulgent approach to film making.”
“A brilliant if challenging film. Ironic that such a complex individual should be presented in such glorious black-and-white.”
“Would someone tell me why Oprah, Bill Gates, etc are going to Africa to build schools? This felt like today…depressing and heartbreaking. So beautiful, a tone piece. Thank you for reminding me of how lucky we are.”
If you'd like to know more about the film...
Here is the official site of the filmt that includes cast and crew credits, pivotal points in Lincolns life, and its screening history.
Looks like now we know how the film got its title. Here is a link to "The Better Angels Society". A website dedicated to invdividual members who wish to make historical documentaries.
