When you buy a ticket to the latest Steven Spielberg war drama, you might have your heart set on a few things: blockbuster-scale war scenes, enough explosions to last a lifetime, and maybe even some interesting cinematography. In Lincoln, however, what you get is perhaps the most riveting history lesson you’ve ever had, in a surprisingly subtle and understated format. The screenplay, written by Pulitzer award winner Tony Kushner and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, covers the final months of the 16th president’s life as he struggles to abolish slavery via the Thirteenth Amendment. (Cinema, Lincoln) 9/10