‘Lincoln’: The Steven Spielberg movie Samuel L Jackson hated
As one of Hollywood’s most recognisable stars, Samuel L Jackson has appeared in his fair share of acclaimed movies, rising to prominence in the late 1980s with roles in Spike Lee movies like Do The Right Thing and Mo’ Better Blues. He soon appeared in other celebrated movies like Goodfellas, Jurassic Park, Pulp Fiction, and True Romance, establishing himself as a Hollywood icon.
In the years since, Jackson has been seen in a wide variety of movies, often working with Quentin Tarantino. Alongside Pulp Fiction, he has also appeared in Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, and The Hateful Eight – clearly, Tarantino considers him a favourite. The actor has also found himself in the Star Wars franchise and several Marvel movies, as well as lending his voice to The Incredibles and various other animated films.
However, during the time he was breaking through into the industry, it was perhaps Jurassic Park that introduced Jackson to the mainstream. He played Ray Arnold, an engineer who is killed off-screen. Still, most people can remember his character, whose arm is later discovered by Laura Dern’s Ellie. Directed by Steven Spielberg, one of the most successful Hollywood figures of all time, the movie was the first massive blockbuster that Jackson was cast in.
Yet, Jackson has since had some negative things to say about a later Spielberg film, and we’d be surprised if the filmmaker ever casts Jackson in one of his movies again. While cinema is rather subjective, and Jackson is more than entitled to his opinion, he hilariously shared it very publicly. The actor was not a fan of Lincoln, the 2012 biopic that chronicled the end of the 16th President of the United States’ life. He was played by Hollywood royalty Daniel Day-Lewis, who earned a ‘Best Actor’ Oscar for his incredible performance.
For Jackson, the movie just wasn’t up to scratch. “I don’t understand why it didn’t just end when Lincoln is walking down the hall and the butler gives him his hat,” he revealed (via The Los Angeles Times). “Why did I need to see him dying on the bed? I have no idea what Spielberg was trying to do,” the actor continued before summing up his thoughts, “I didn’t need the assassination at all. Unless he’s going to show Lincoln getting his brains blown out. And even then, why am I watching it? The movie had a better ending ten minutes before.”
Lincoln was nominated for ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Director’ at the Oscars, with many critics heaping praise on the epic movie, believing it to be a significant cinematic achievement. With Day-Lewis in the leading role, it wasn’t hard to guess that the movie would become a massive success, but there were also fantastic performances from other actors, including Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tommy Lee Jones.
So, while Jackson wasn’t a fan, it seems he was in the minority. The actor has always been rather outspoken, however, and it’s often refreshing to hear stars honestly sharing their opinions on movies without fearing the potential repercussions.
