There have been a few wonderful movies released recently that revolve around the stories of two well-known Presidents. These period pieces are set in the eras of great turmoil. In
Hyde Park on Hudson we are placed in 1939 New York before World War II breaks out in Europe as Hitler rolled out his war machine. The other film is Steven Spielberg's
Lincoln, set during the last months of the American Civil War and during the political struggles to pass the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Both films are new releases on DirecTVs on demand network. If you havent signed up yet for DirecTV some websites such as
saveontvdirect.com offer unique deals. While both works have had critics raise issues about the historical accuracy of the films, it is important to note that these are fictional renditions and not intended to be documentaries in the traditional sense. They illustrate a time and tale from the perspective of the people attempting to tell a good story, plus sell theater tickets. This must always be considered. Bill Murray plays as Franklin D. Roosevelt with
Laura Linney in the role as his cousin, Margaret Suckley. You know it really is remarkable when you go back and look at her career. Perhaps she is not at the top of your favorite actresses list, but Linney has been in some great pictures, recall that she was in
Congo,
Mystic River and
Kinsey. In Hyde Park on Hudson the film makers create a world where FDR is attempting to romance his cousin and rumored mistress during the visit of the English Nobility to America. Of course, the looming war across the Atlantic is a major theme here but the central plot revolves around the two aforementioned characters. The film was derided by critics, many claiming that judicious liberties were written into the relationship of the President and Margaret Suckley. However, many also praised Bill Murray's performance, including the late Roger Ebert. Murray has really grown and blossomed as an actor since
Lost in Translation. That film provided him a platform for a career renaissance that finds the man expanding beyond the roles he traditionally picked up in the prime of his career. He is aging with grace on screen, finding movies that allow us to see his entire range of skills without regurgitating the performances that endeared him to us in the past. Daniel Day-Lewis is amazing in
Lincoln. He is truly transparent and as a viewer we see only the man he intends for us to perceive and no more. This movie suffered a historical snafu, when Connecticut Representative and history buff, Joe Courtney raised concerns over the scene in which the U.S. House voted on the 13th Amendment. In the film the CT Reps voted no, but that is incorrect according to the records. All the same,
Lincoln is a beautiful film that captures the look and feel of the times, if not as authentically as historians may like, then at least in a thrilling and captivating manner for audiences. Also the film secured three Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor, which likely speaks to how most of Hollywood felt about it.