The first official look at Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln has finally arrived and to no surprise it is a spot on appearance.
After yesterday's teaser trailer for Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty, Spielberg's latest is the only "major" Oscar contender yet to give us a trailer, but the arrival of this image tells me a trailer can't be too far behind.
Based on the biopic "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" by Doris Kearns Goodwin, the film tells the story of the 16th President of the United States and alongside Day-Lewis in the lead role he is joined by Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Hal Holbrook, James Spader, John Hawkes, Tim Blake Nelson, Bruce McGill, Joseph Cross, Gloria Reuben, David Warshofsky, David Strathairn, Walt Goggins, Lee Pace, Jackie Earle Haley, David Oyelowo and Jared Harris. Add to that a script adapted by Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner (Munich, "Angels in America"), John Logan (Gladiator) and Paul Webb.
"Lincoln had a very, very complicated -- and at the same time, extremely clear -- inner life," Spielberg told Entertainment Weekly. "He thought things out. He talked things out. He argued both sides of every issue. And he was very careful in making any decision. As a matter of fact, his opponents and his enemies criticized him often for being impossibly slow to a decision."
Lincoln hits theaters on November 9.
Photo: DreamWorks Pictures
Disposable Cinema: I Give You the Future of 'The Amazing Spider-Man'
2014 Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actress Update
This Supposed 'Man of Steel' Controversy is Ridiculous
James Gandolfini Has Died at the Age of 51
Sam Taylor-Johnson Set to Direct 'Fifty Shades of Grey'
Time Traveling Turkeys in First 'Free Birds' Trailer
Get Fit! 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Casting Breakdown
'Out of the Furnace' Pushed into the Thick of Oscar Season
First Official Pictures from Steve McQueen's 'Twelve Years a Slave'
Which Animated Movie Will Stand Forward as a Solid 2014 Oscar Contender?
A Shot at an Oscar Nomination for Britney Spears?
He looks just like him..and the Oscar goes to
He is such phenomenal actor. But already has 2 oscars so this has to be even better than his there Will be blood performance to win
My God it's as if they've brought Lincoln back to life again. My Lord. Day-Lewis greatest performance of all time here we go patna!!
He looks nothing like Lincoln guys. Just because they combed his beard in the same way doesn't mean he looks like him.
That doesn't take away from the film though. I enjoyed the hell out of Frost/Nixon and Langella looked nothing like the former president. Brolin didn't look anything like Bush either and I enjoyed that performance too.
I hope this is a great film. Steven Spielberg's last three films were incredibly boring though [Tintin, War Horse and IJ4]. Hopefully, he gets back into "Munich" form with this one.
And the race is on...
Daniel Day-Lewis is my favorite actor of all time, he is going to bring Lincoln to life. It going to be awesome.
Wonderful, wonderful actor. Always enjoy seeing him. Can't wait to see this. Perfect casting!
That's astonishing. I think this gives a good sign of who will be taking home the Oscar for Makeup.
Yeah, I can't see this legend missing out on the Best Actor win!
Why waste time? Just hand him the Oscar now.
I hope this means we can expect a trailer soon.
I'm predicting that the film will be a real disappointment and will miss out on the majority of the Oscar nominations but Daniel Day-Lewis will walk away with the best actor nom.
I'm afraid that John Williams is going to ruin it.
I'm not sure we can say that DDL will definitely win it this year. He is a wonderful talent (my favorite of all-time) but with two wins already and quite possibly the best performance of all-time as Daniel Plainview. He needs to step it up even more. And with Joaquin Phoenix's performance getting high praises, it could go to him because of how he's been a constant talent but never quite done enough to win. I want DDL to win, but can't say he will for sure.
Wow. One still image and everyone already considers him a lock to win Best Actor. Seriously?
Don't get me wrong, he's easily the greatest method actor of our time, but there isn't even a teaser out yet or any early screenings to judge his performance, and his competition Joaquin Phoenix is going to be tough. Furthermore, keep in mind he's done plenty of movies with mixed reviews (such as 'Nine' and 'Ballad of Jack and Rose') and if the film as a whole doesn't hold up (like Spielberg has tended to do lately) he could be passed over.
I'm not being cynical, I'm just saying one photo of DDL sitting in a chair with decent make up doesn't necessarily make him a lock to win Best Actor at the Oscars. Let's wait until someone's actually seen the movie to make that call.
I love how everyone is saying he's going to win the Oscar based on... A still. Awesome.
Actually people have been predicting him for the Oscar since pretty much he was announced but we'll let that slide.
I'm more interested in a trailer.
Not that Daniel Day-Lewis isn't likely to deliver a phenomenal performance, and it's sorta nitpicky...but am I the only one who thinks it's a little weird that one of America's most prominent Presidents is being played by a Brit?
Lol, that is kinda ironic is it. But Liam Neeson was originally going to play Lincoln, who is Irish and it would've been just as exciting as Day-Lewis. Both great actors. That is a interesting thought though, which U.S. actor could play Lincoln? Who'd you had in mind?
Just a little...I had the same thought about Henry Cavill playing Superman (i.e. the hero who stands for "Truth, Justice and the American Way"). Frankly, I'd be just as weirded out by an American playing James Bond...but at least Supes and Bond are fictional characters. Lincoln isn't. I thought the same thing with Neeson back when he was in the role.
And hmmm, I hadn't really thought about which U.S. actor could handle it. Maybe (just to throw out a few recent Oscar-y names) Jeff Bridges, Richard Jenkins, David Strathairn. Obviously that's not a full list.
Oh, wow, the three you mention are great. I could see one of the them easily playing Lincoln. I could see William Hurt, Ed Harris, Chris Cooper, Stanley Tucci, and Viggo Mortensen, it'd be great if these fine actor take the role. And like you said there's obviously more actors that could take the helm.
Viggo ain't American.
Thought about all of those ones save Viggo...from that list, I see Harris working the most. Honestly, it's too hard to envision Tucci not being bald, sorry. I know he's been in roles where that wasn't the case but personally it looked weird.
And I didn't think Viggo was American either, but he *was* born here (NYC).
Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher.
This is going to be a great race between Day-Lewis and Phoenix
Yup, Viggo is an American.
Lol, yeah, Stanley having hair would look funny, but talent wise I think he'd be good. But, yeah, I could see Ed Harris or William Hurt fitting the role.
Daniel Day Lewis could defecate in his pants and you people would scream "GIM HIM AN OSCAR." I see nothing here but the work of a remarkable makeup artist and photographer. I am not implying that his performance will be ill-fated. However, let us see something more than a strategically lighted photo because we scream like sugar-fueled fans of The Beatles.