‘Abraham Lincoln’ is the New ‘Matrix’? Wait … What?

The above title is not in reference to my own thoughts, but of one of the film’s actors that caught an early cut of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.  Let me just start out by saying that that is quite a bold statement.  Even beyond that, I think we can all agree that it is simply a sensational quote just so that studios can get paying customers into the 3D film.  Let’s take a look though at the “who” and the “what” of the actual statement.

In a new interview with Screen Rant, actor Anthony Mackie , Lincoln’s friend and servant in the film, spoke a little about the stunts, story, and expectations of the historical horror film.

“We did a ton of training. I can honestly say that Timur is amazing because he shot this film like it was a real like biography of Abraham Lincoln, but the action sequences are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. He realized that this fabricated story is so far out there that he had to go all the way out to make it work. So he just went as far as he could with the CGI and that trademark Timur cranking of shots and the storytelling.”

 

Okay … so far, nothing crazy. Let’s see what else he says.

“If you like those type of movies it gives you an aspect of history, but it also gives you an aspect of filmmaking that you’ve never seen before… It’s crazy. I saw it about two weeks ago and I didn’t know how to describe it for a day and half. Everybody kept asking me and I was like: I’m very happy I’m in it.”

 

Well, clearly the man is happy with the way the film turned out. That’s fantastic considering I did’nt think that the book was all that entertaining.  The final comment though is the quote that sets this whole story in motion.

“I feel like the great thing about it is being able to do a pleasant mixture. Just recently I was able to do a play, two independent films and one big crazy studio film. But ‘Abraham Lincoln’ is like the ‘Matrix’ of the next generation. It’s going to do to film what ‘The Matrix’ did to film.”

 

And there you have it, folks.  A quote that seems so ridiculous that it almost makes me question and discount everything the man has just said entirely.  I actually like Anthony Mackie.  His performance in The Hurt Locker was phenomenal and I’m excited to see him featured in this as well as this year’s Gangster Squad.  However, this just seems like a stunt to get people excited about the film.  With flailing attendance at the theater and the rising cost of shooting a big budget film in 3D, I’m sure the studios are nervous if they are going to make their money back on a “historical” film with no major actors in the lead.  We will have to see if the final product matches Mackie’s high praise when it enters theaters on June 22, 2012.

Source: Screen Rant