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It's beginning to look a lot like Awards season. Here's a look at what's out now!

Lincoln
Starring: Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon Levitt, and David Straithairn
Synopsis: When most of us think of Abraham Lincoln, we probably think of pennies — or, perhaps, $5 bills  — monuments, top hats, and grandiose speeches. But what about the man and the times he was “fitted into?” Already this year Lincoln’s work has been re-imagined as a vampire fantasy. But in his new film, director Steven Spielberg is interested in a more reasoned, grounded approach to the man and his mission. Lincoln lived during violent, dangerous times and was forced to make difficult decisions and champion challenging causes. We have a tendency to romanticize the past and politics — and people living south of the Mason-Dixon Line might consider “Lincoln” a bit of both. But the film focuses on a specific period late in Lincoln’s life and is a beautiful portrait of a man struggling to balance the needs of political allies with making the world a better place. It’s not a spoiler alert to recap the plot of this film because — unlike the year’s first film centered on Abraham Lincoln — this one is rooted in history. I was somewhat short with “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” because of the way it conveniently glossed over a dark period of American history for some cheap entertainment. There is nothing cheap about “Lincoln,” and the film takes the dark period in American history very seriously. This is a reverent look at the period and a beautiful tribute to the man himself. Spielberg’s second act as a director seems rooted in honest, emotional explorations of history. He made his name as a director who filled his films with a sense of awe and wonder. Over the last 25 years, that has matured into a sense of honor and grounded reality. Spielberg’s World War II collection — “Schindler’s List,” “Saving Private Ryan,” and “Band of Brothers” — was an exploration of a certain era. Since then, he’s expanded his lens to consider a number of important moments in history. His partner in “Lincoln” — screenwriter Tony Kushner — seems similarly fascinated by the period and the importance of the moment to American history. I wasn’t a fan of the first Kushner-Spielberg collaboration — the overly violent and dark “Munich” — but this is a beautiful story told beautifully. It doesn’t make anyone out to be a saint, nor does it seek to demonize those that would have favored keeping the bonds of slavery enforced. Instead, it seeks to honestly explore the period and the courage of men who were willing to risk a lasting peace because of a strong moral conviction. If, indeed, life is a series of trade-offs, “Lincoln” beautifully captures the internal struggle of President Lincoln as he wrestled with two impossible goals. The final act of the film, when Lincoln is confronted by the horror of a war that continued to rage, in part because he refused to compromise his principles, it’s moving. What makes the film moving is the stunning performances. Few actors have the gift of consuming the audience in a character the way Day Lewis does. He inhabits Lincoln in an authentic, moving, and beautiful way. He offers a three-dimensional portrait of a man who kept a nation together despite being a swirl of conflicting emotions and ideals. Equally as stunning is the strength of the supporting cast. Sally Field does a tremendous job as Lincoln’s wife, Mary, while Tommy Lee Jones is great as the anti-slavery crusader Thaddeus Stevens. Indeed the entire supporting cast — which includes Hal Holbrook, Joseph Gordon Levitt, John Hawkes, Lee Pace, James Spader, and Jared Harris — is great. The film is a moving and fitting tribute to a complicated man whose vision and determination held a nation together during complicated and violent times. It’s not so much an idealized vision of what our political leaders could be as a portrait of the hard choices and hard positions they used to have the character to stand behind. It’s a reminder that we once had honorable men of conviction governing America and, just maybe, a nudge that we should demand that of our leaders again.
Rating: PG-13 for an intense scene of war violence, some images of carnage and brief strong language.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Red Dawn
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Adrianne Palicki, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Synopsis: In 1984, when the original "Red Dawn" was released, it was probably a little far-fetched to think the United States could be invaded. In 2012, it seems really ridiculous. Especially problematic is the premise — that the North Koreans and Russians team up to use a special weapon that fries the power grid. Except that phones, vehicles, and lights all seem to work. So it's selective power issues. My biggest area of unbelief is that the whole endeavor wouldn't be defeated by armed resistance before it got started. Can you imagine paratroopers landing in New York or Los Angeles and being able to take it over? I mean, I've seen "The Wire." Forget the police and the National Guard, there's enough people packing in the hood that I think there would be some serious problems. So it's with a giant grain of salt that you have to accept the plot point in "Red Dawn," which substitutes a mix of North Koreans and Russians for the Cold War Russians and moves the action from Colorado to the Pacific Northwest. That wasn't my only problem with this film. It's an interesting idea to re-make it, and some of the cast has promise, but it's unclear what this film was trying to accomplish. It plays out mostly like a violent video game, as little time is taken to establish character beyond a few archetypes and cliches. And the last act of the film is where a somewhat enjoyable action film really goes off the rails. The ending was beyond inane and leaves you further wondering what the point of the film is really supposed to be. This is kind of like popcorn entertainment — and I liked the performances of Hemsworth and Dean Morgan — but the rest was a little tough to swallow. This film is about as deep as a puddle and lacks a bit in the satisfying resolution department. And that's when you get past the ridiculous premise.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense war violence and action, and for language.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Sessions
Starring: John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, and William H. Macy
Synopsis: The premise of this film is not something you see every day. It's based on the life of Mark O'Brien (Hawkes), a man stricken by polio that was looking to fully experience life. A writer and poet, O'Brien has a zeal for life, and a life lived to the full. After seeking guidance from those closest to him — including his priest (Macy) — O'Brien decides to hire a sex surrogate. Said surrogate, played by Hunt, has six sessions to awaken the 38-year-old O'Brien to his sexuality for the first time. It's an interesting, intimate, and ultimately beautiful portrait of love. The film — written and directed by Ben Lewin — is an unflinching, beautiful portrayal of O'Brien's life. Hawkes is remarkable in the film, inhabiting a character who essentially can't move at all. He brings life to the role and a great deal of emotional complexity. Hunt and Macy also deserve a lot of credit for their work in the film as well. "The Sessions" is a winning mix of comedy and drama that takes a potentially awkward subject and treats it very lovingly. It is one of the more pleasant surprises of the year.
Rating: R for strong sexuality including graphic nudity and frank dialogue.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner
Synopsis: Mercifully with this, the fifth film in the series, the "Twilight" saga comes to an end. Bella (Stewart) and Edward (Pattinson) live happily ever after and Jacob (Lautner) finds his perfect match. All's well that ends well, right? Well, not exactly. I have had mixed feelings about the "Twilight" films. Some have been awful — hello "New Moon" — while others have been mildly interesting. Mostly, I wanted two things out of "Breaking Dawn, Part 2." I wanted to see how it all ended (because I don't read the books), and I wanted to finally see the big vampire war the series continues to tease. I got one of those things. I won't ruin it for those that haven't seen the film, but I was completely enraged by the ending to this film. It was the worst "dream sequence" bait and switch I've seen in quite some time. I guess it seems fitting to the rest of this series, but it was still a disappointment. Those that liked the other four films, and those that are fans of the series, will likely be satisfied with the final film. But if you're just looking for a good film — look elsewhere. The performances were middling, the story is inane, and the special effects in this final installment were not all they're cracked up to be. But, at least the "Twilight" saga is over...
Rating: PG-13 for  sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sensuality and partial nudity.
Verdict: One star out of four.

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