When the release date of November 9th was announced for Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, many of us movie blogger types were surprised that the film's domestic distributor Touchstone Pictures chose not to capitalize on the always-intense atmosphere of presidential campaign season by opening the 16th president docudrama one week earlier. But in hindsight it seems the plan might have been to pull Lincoln away from the politicized atmosphere that could have hurt its box office in either red states or blue states depending on the spin. However, it's now politicians who are looking to make a statement with the movie that centers on the Republican president's fight to pass the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which outlawed slavery within the United States.
Deadline reports that Democratic Senator and Majority Leader Harry Reid has invited Spielberg to screen the film before the Senate within its hallowed chamber on December 12th, which may well be the first-time a film will screen in full there. Reid is reportedly a major admirer of the feature, but it's impossible to believe that's the only reason for his hopes of having it roll before his fellow senators.
Those who've seen Lincoln know that much of its action takes place during the lame duck session of 1865. With many politicians on the way out of their seats, Lincoln—according to the film—pushed and politicked for these exiting congressmen to make one last and lasting impact for the betterment of our nation with a bold vote for the opposing party's plan. Now, with all eyes on how the current U.S. Senate will deal with the fast approaching fiscal cliff, it seems likely that Reid is hoping the film will prove a point of persuasion to Republican opponents who are refusing to budge on raising taxes on the upper class. While it's almost certain Spielberg will accept this monumental invitation, it's less clear on where Lincoln stands as far as this current debate.
