The Better Angels (2014)

I love this movie so much

The Worst Film Ever

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Good movie but grossly overrated

My first opinion for this movie is that it has beautiful cinematography by having the screen move in different directions and having a variety of shots. Even though it is in black and white, I find that the movie captures the lighting and darkness really well. The sounds effects for the movie is really amplified for example the crunching of the leaves or birds chirping, likewise for the soundtrack it made the movie more calming and beautiful with the violin or piano playing. The movie didn't have a lot of dialogue beside the narrator's voice of Abraham. It didn't sound like him either since it was more southern and not as high pitched. A better representation of Abraham's voice could be Daniel Day-Lewis's in Spielberg's Lincoln (2012) which is more high-pitched. I also find that the movie also explains Abraham Lincoln's life and his relationships with his family and friends very accurately, which the movie centers more on the interactions with his mother, step mother, and father. The actor that played Abraham didn't seem to show much emotions or show any personality traits throughout the movie for example, there was a lot of scenes that just focuses on his face with no emotions. Overall, I don't usually watch a black and white movie however, I enjoyed watching this since it was entertaining and wasn't dull or tedious to watch.

In thoughtful movies that rely on dialog and story rather than CGI, sex and violence, there's an opportunity to craft meaningful character studies. The Better Angels forgoes the flash, even filming in black and white. The problem is, they didn't develop any characters. Particularly young Lincoln. Nothing happens. No one changes, except maybe Lincoln's father a little. The viewer slogs through the boredom of frontier life without any insight into young Lincoln. I don't need to see people shot, stabbed and punched. I don't need to see gratuitous sex or colorful explosions, flashy costumes or lively music. But if you're going to make a movie about an historical character, there has to be a story told that shapes the boy into a man. This movie is little more than a black and white home movie where NOTHING happens. Four stars is probably generous.

The Better Angels is a one of kind film, in that it is about Abraham Lincoln's very early life. The film covers three very formative years for Lincoln. From my previous knowledge I think that this film is very accurate and the information is directly from Lincoln's cousin so I would say the facts are accurate. Also, I think the film accurately depicts the time period with the activities that they are doing in the film, the look of the house, and wilderness around them. This film is the only film on Lincoln that really shows a big part of his childhood in detail. Braydon Denney did an excellent job of playing Abraham Lincoln. He got his shy but playful personality down perfectly. I enjoyed the film as a whole because of the cinematography. All of the shots in this film were very beautiful and the use of nature throughout really caught my attention. But, there wasn't much dialog throughout the movie and because of this, I felt like I got a lot of the idea of the movie just from the trailer. Also, the film moved pretty slowly because it didn't have many big events throughout it, just little details. In The Better Angels, there are many little events and details that show Abraham Lincoln's personality and what impacted him to be the man he became. Throughout the entire film Lincoln's backwoodsman feel is shown through the way he lived and the tough times for him in the film. Compared to other films I have seen on Lincoln, I think this film portrayed Lincoln's close relationships with his mother and stepmother the best. They really tried to capture Lincoln's pain when his mother died in this film and I think they did a great job of it. It was very interesting to see Abraham in a church as a young child because I have not seen this in any other films that included Lincoln. It was very interesting to see how honest he was throughout the film. The film even touched on Lincoln's background in wrestling. In my opinion, the most powerful part of the film was when Lincoln is watching the slaves walk by attached to chains. I also loved how much it showed his mother and stepmother believing in him and his abilities. Abraham Lincoln as shown in this film, had many people who thought he was amazing and knew he was capable of great things at a young age. His stepmother knew he needed schooling and once he started, even his teacher believed in his abilities. Overall, The Better Angels really showed little events that shaped Lincoln into the man he became and gave the viewer a good understanding of how Abraham Lincoln's childhood was.

This is one of the most extraordinary films I have ever seen. I've been pondering the experience for a couple of days. I really don't know how to express what I thought and felt while watching it. I fear that whatever I say will sound plastic, and it was not plastic at all. It was real. It fell just short of being living flesh.To start, I felt like I was really there with young Lincoln and his family. It was like visiting with them. The feeling became deeper as the film progressed.Black and white was the perfect choice for this film. The cinematography was in a class by itself. Orson Wells did not do any better when he filmed Citizen Kane.Many of the camera angles were new to me; and yet they were as comfortable as old shoes. The sound was just as extraordinary. The wind in the trees, the birds chirping in the fields all combined with the skilled use of the camera and drew me in.I've seen, as far as I know, every film ever made about Lincoln. He has been one of my heroes since I was a child. But, I've never seen one that covered his early childhood in such depth. Not necessarily depth of historical detail, but depth of experience; what he lived, thought and felt as a boy.I was surprised and pleased to see something of his early school years. And yes, they prayed in school and the teacher taught from the Bible. The one room schoolhouse was, to the best of my knowledge, accurately portrayed.If you question the reality of Christian teaching in early American schools, I suggest you Google up a copy of the first editions of McGuffey's Readers. You'll find them to be full of Christianity. That's the first editions; 1836 - 37. Not the later editions when the "gutting" of Christian teaching and principals was already having it's effect. More's the pity.The two women in young Lincoln's life were of course his two mothers.To watch Lincoln's mother touch and stroke his face and tousled hair was perhaps the most heart touching portrayal of a mother's love I have ever seen in film. Words were not needed; the love in her eyes and the touch of her hand said it all. No wonder Lincoln gave her so much praise.Following his mother's death, his step-mother eventually became just as close to him. She too, was an extraordinary woman.I disagree with the short shrift many film critics have given to Lincoln's father. He played as large a part in shaping Lincoln's character as did his two mothers. Lincoln Sr. is well represented here; and deservedly so.When I was a boy there was a time I would have given anything to hear my father say to me what Abe's father says to him toward the end of the film. Of course I won't give it away, but I'll tell you it's worth waiting for.I don't know if anyone connected with the film will ever read this, but if they do, I want to express my thanks and let you know I'm grateful for for work and care you put into "The Better Angels." I can honestly say that I think I'm a bit better for having seen it.If you have not yet see this work of love, please do. I think you'll consider it to be time very well spent.