CROSSVILLE —
If you are not much of a moviegoer, or if you are but have not planned on seeing the period piece Lincoln, I highly suggest you do so. The movie, which ranked in the top three at the box office over Thanksgiving weekend, is a portrayal of President Abraham Lincoln and his fight to pass Proposition 13 abolishing slavery.
The movie, under the tutelage of Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg, is flawless with every component from the acting to the costumes impeccably detailed and researched. I suspect it will earn a host of Golden Globe and Oscar nominations over the next few weeks.
Daniel Day-Lewis does not play Lincoln. He is Lincoln. His interpretation of the 16th president is so accurate it is uncanny. His posture, his movements and his voice are all contributors to the best imitation of the iconic president I have ever seen. Day-Lewis, you may remember, has already won two Academy Awards for his work in My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood. However, he is perhaps more known for his role in The Last of the Mohicans.
A method actor, he is very selective in his roles (he averages only one film every five years) and is often nominated for his performances. He certainly should be for his work in this biopic. Day-Lewis channels Lincoln and his humor, sadness and intellect in such a poignant and hauntingly beautiful manner that I was melancholy even before he entered Ford Theater where he was eventually assassinated.
As good as Day-Lewis is, and I mean he is really good, his supporting cast is also phenomenal. My two favorites: Sally Field (who reportedly packed on 25 pounds and agreed to be filmed sans makeup) plays his grief stricken wife, Mary Todd Lincoln; and Tommy Lee Jones (who was former vice president Al Gore’s roommate at Harvard). Jones is certainly nomination worthy in his role as the radical Republican Thaddeus Stevens. Jones manages to weave caustic, funny and political into an engaging character with a “method to his madness.”
Stevens hailed from Pennsylvania and was also an attorney. He was famous for his use of the insanity plea in murder cases, something groundbreaking in mid-1800s and was the lead in the impeachment proceedings against President Johnson. During his political years, his views ranged from Federalist to Whig to Republican. During Lincoln’s presidency, Stevens served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
A stellar scene in Lincoln is between Field and Jones as she unabashedly dresses him down at a party for his meticulous eye on her First Lady expenditures.
The movie is almost 2.5 hours long, but is so good the minutes quickly tick by. Matter of fact, when we saw it, one gentleman stood up for the entire performance, and as the credits rolled, applause broke out in the theater. Lincoln has been selling out here in Crossville and nationwide. I recommend getting to the theater in plenty of time to purchase your tickets, visit the concession stand and locate your seat.
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The annual Crossville Christmas Parade is accepting entries for its annual trek down Main Street. The parade is scheduled to step off next Saturday, Dec. 8, at 4:30 p.m. with the theme “Christmas Dreams.” The parade is free to enter, but you must contact the Palace Theatre staff to get registered. You may do so by calling 484-6133 or emailing them at palace@crossvilletn.gov.
Speaking of parades, three Cumberland County students marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The three young ladies are Rhianna Mann, Hailey Taylor and Kasie Looschen, all Brown Elementary School cheerleaders. They were chosen over the summer by the All American Cheerleading organization.
Lifestyles
AROUND THE TOWN: Spielberg’s Lincoln is flawless
- Lifestyles
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Pleasant Hill Ramblings: Pleasant Hill Elementary honors volunteers
Mary Ann Kotus-Huff, principal of Pleasant Hill Elementary School (PHS), recently welcomed volunteers to the annual Volunteer Tea. It was held in the gaily decorated new all-purpose room of the new annex. Volunteers were treated to sandwiches, fruit, cheese and crackers and cupcakes.
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Plateau Gardening: Transplanting tips
My landscape is perennial–based. There are vines, trees, shrubs as well as herbaceous (soft-stemmed) vegetation in assorted categories-ornamentals, herbs and food crops like rhubarb. Annuals in containers are used to add splashes of color. At this time of year, I usually have a few recently purchased plants waiting to be transplanted (see the accompanying photo).
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Fair Park offering help for senior dog owners
A dog is a senior's best friend. Family and friends are not around much, and everyone is so busy. After retirement the free time seems to be longer. Many seniors would be very lonely if it was not for their four-legged friends. Dogs are a big part of the family, so they need to learn to be obedient to make it easier on the relationship.
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The beginnings of Cumberland County Discovery Gardens
It was a great day in 2004 when Walt Hitch looked out his window and studied the three unused acres that accompanied his hundreds of acres of AgResearch lands.
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CCHS Class of 1963 congratulates Class of 2013
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Putt for the Cure miniature golf tournament a success
Kids of all ages enjoyed a fun outing of miniature golf Saturday at the first Putt for the Cure event, presented by Dr. Calley Jo Elsea of Cloudland Dental, to benefit the Upper Cumberland affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Players teams up with sponsors and host Pirates Plateau Golf Adventure to raise funds to help area women get needed screening exams, support patients and survivors, educate the public and support national research initiatives.
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Around the Town: Attendance is the Key to success in Cumberland County!
High school attendance is up and 10 cars have been given away. This is all thanks to some forward thinking educators along with Dave and Connie Kirk and the staff at Dave Kirk Automotive. This year marks the 10th anniversary, or a decade, of what the high school students call "Dave Kirk Drawing Day." Or, in layman's terms, some junior or senior from Cumberland County High School, Stone Memorial High School or Phoenix School wins a brand spanking new vehicle.
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End of another great year for Neighbors and Newcomers
Referred to as the "best little club on the mountain," Neighbors and Newcomers will be holding its last meeting of the year May 23. After a fun-filled, interesting and exciting year, the group will enjoy this end-of-the-year lunch at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds.
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Seniors to visit Sutton General Store May 18
On May 10, the members of the 127 Senior Center had a good time socializing, playing bingo, dominos and billiards. Numbers were called by Arlene Simmons, with the prizes furnished by Bob Folger, with State Farm Insurance.
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Marriage licenses
Published May 15, 2013.
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