Lincoln: Steven Spielberg’s Upcoming Historical Epic
Summary
In this article, we discuss Steven Spielberg’s upcoming movie “Lincoln” and his previous works in historical epics, emotional movies, and science fiction. The speaker expresses their concerns about Spielberg’s approach to science fiction and suggests that he should focus more on the emotional core of the genre.
Table of Contents
- Spielberg’s Three Types of Movies
- The Emotional Subtext of “Close Encounters”
- The Missed Opportunity of “War of the Worlds”
- Tom Cruise’s Performance in “War of the Worlds”
- A Different Actor for “War of the Worlds”
- Spielberg’s Focus on Emotional Core
Spielberg’s Three Types of Movies
Steven Spielberg is known for making three types of movies: historical epics, emotional movies, and science fiction. His new movie “Lincoln,” set to be released in November, is a historical epic that tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s fight to abolish slavery. Spielberg has a talent for bringing historical events to life on the big screen, as seen in his previous works such as “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan.”
The Emotional Subtext of “Close Encounters”
The speaker expresses their concerns about Spielberg’s approach to science fiction. While Spielberg’s earlier science fiction movie, “Close Encounters,” is a classic example of how science fiction can be about the dissolution of a family, his later works in the genre have missed the mark. “Close Encounters” is about a man who loses his family to aliens and goes kind of nuts. The movie can be read in a metaphoric way, and it’s secretly about the dissolution of a family. Spielberg was always working on father issues in his science fiction movies.
The Missed Opportunity of “War of the Worlds”
The speaker believes that Spielberg missed an opportunity with his later science fiction movie, “War of the Worlds.” The movie could have been great, but the main character is a father who’s not connected with his family anymore. The emotional subtext of a father reconnecting with his family is lost as Tom Cruise’s character becomes the hero by throwing a grenade at a Martian tripod.
Tom Cruise’s Performance in “War of the Worlds”
The speaker praises Tom Cruise’s acting skills when he plays himself in movies. However, in “War of the Worlds,” the emotional subtext of a father reconnecting with his family is lost as Tom Cruise’s character becomes the hero by throwing a grenade at a Martian tripod.
A Different Actor for “War of the Worlds”
The speaker suggests that if Steven Spielberg had cast a different actor, such as Philip Seymour Hoffman, the movie would have been more artistic and would have restored the metaphor. Hoffman has a talent for bringing emotional depth to his roles, and his performance could have added a layer of complexity to the father’s journey in the movie.
Spielberg’s Focus on Emotional Core
In conclusion, the speaker believes that Spielberg should focus more on the emotional core of science fiction movies, like he does on historical epics in “Lincoln.” By doing so, Spielberg can create science fiction movies that are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.
