The other day I grabbed Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the latest film from Kazakh import Timur Bekmambetov(Wanted, Nightwatch). Honestly this is the reason why I go to the movies, yes it is silly, yes it makes no sense historically, but honestly who cares? As Inglorious Basterds showed us all a few years ago, taking historical eras and figures, and playing with them, can produce movies which are quite fun, and in many ways remind us of why we find those figures so fascinating.

All American children are told about Lincoln in school, that he freed the slaves, that he preserved the Union, and that he really liked tall hats. Embodying such a legend, and then turning him into a vampire hunter was never likely to be easy, but lead actor Benjamin Walker(Kinsey) performs admirably. His predominantly theatrical background helps him play the unique art, a president as well as an axe-wielding action-hero. The cast is nicely rounded off a series of character actors such as Dominic Cooper (My Week With Marilyn, Captain America) as Lincoln’s teacher in the ways of vampire hunting, Anthony Mackie(The Hurt Locker, Notorious) as Lincoln’s real life valet  William Johnson, and Jimmi Simpson(It’s always Sunny, Date Night) as his lifelong friend Joshua Speed. Using lesser know, primarily character actors, really works to the film’s advantage. Since most of the actors are lesser known to the audience, it becomes easier to buy them as the historical figures; also this film avoids impromptu monologues, which major film stars always seem to demand. 

What keeps this movie together above all else is its director. A director other than Bekmambetov would have filmed this movie in a very campy manner, filled with bad dialogue and camera mugging. In an interview with NPR the director stated that his style comes from his background. He was trained as a Soviet director with a high focus on dramatic and art film, however following the collapse of the Soviet Union, he found himself directing commercials and music videos. Bekmambetov said this background allowed him to make films that appealed to mass audiences, but had the discipline of an art film. Bekmambetov said he used Noseferatu and Birth of a Nation as models while making this movie. These were good choices as the film manages to combine the genres of Period-drama, Western, Civil War Film, and Horror movies, without having them clash. 

Bekmambetov also said that while preparing for the film he studied Lincoln and came to admire him greatly. The director grew up in the Soviet Union, when what today are 15 countries were one. He was born in Kazakhstan, educated in another nation Uzbekistan, and spoke predominately Russian. When the Soviet Union dissolved  in 1992, he like many people was a left a man between countries. In his in NPR interview Bekmambetov, said that after studying Lincoln and how he preserved his country, he wished there had been such a leader in the Soviet Union. One little thing, the break-up of the Soviet Union, is still a really divisive issue, and a lot of people hold the passionately hold the opposite view of Bekmambetov.

It’s unlikely that Abraham Lincoln will win any awards, but it is simply a lot of fun. With the current economic crisis, and ungodly heat wave, I strongly suggest you relax and grab this fun film.

Shawn Barron 06/30/2012