Oscar Watch: 'Lincoln' trailer hits all the high notes

Posted Monday, September 17, 2012 at 4:11 PM Central
Last updated Friday, September 21, 2012 at 4:23 PM Central

by John Couture

When it comes to the Academy Awards, there are few actors in recent memory that embody their characters more than Daniel Day-Lewis. While he has only taken home two Oscars (to date), it always seems to be an upset when he doesn't win.

Let me go ahead and handicap this year's Oscar race for you right now. Pencil in Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor for his portrayal of President Abraham Lincoln. After just seeing the trailer below, it would be a travesty if anyone else but him were to take home the Oscar this year.

Of course, the awards season is very young and I'm being a bit presumptuous, but I really do think that it's his award to lose. Lincoln should be nominated for a slew of awards and it's the type of movie that historically has done quite well at awards shows.

If you take away its star-studded supporting cast and sure to be Oscar nominated director Steven Spielberg and costumes and set dressing, you're still left with Daniel Day-Lewis. From the looks of this trailer, he has become our 16th President.

I would sit and watch Daniel Day-Lewis perform Lincoln in a 50 seat theater off-off-off-Broadway with just him in a chair on an empty stage. Even then, I still think he'd take home the Oscar.

Naturally, Joaquin Phoenix might have something to say about that as he continues to get rave reviews for his return to acting role in The Master, but for me I think this two-horse race will turn into a landslide victory come February 24.

You might notice (as almost everyone does) that Daniel Day-Lewis brings a unusual high-pitch voice to Lincoln which is in contrast to many other interpretations that feature a deep, gravelly voice. According to experts, Daniel Day-Lewis' interpretation is probably more historically accurate.

Of course it is. We would expect nothing less from the king of method acting. However, that didn't stop Jimmy Fallon from poking a bit of fun at it (with the help of Pee-Wee Herman).

Lincoln hits theaters on November 9.