Your Opinion: "Lincoln' movie not yet here

Dear Editor:

In the early moments of the movie "Lincoln," President Lincoln meets with residents of Jefferson City. No other city gets this much of a shout-out in the movie, but guess what? You can't watch it here.

As an enthusiastic admirer of our 16th president, I have been looking forward to it for months. Steven Spielberg, Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones portray the dramatic story of one of the most significant acts of our Republic since its inception - passage of the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery. I was shocked to find out that it was not even playing in Jefferson City. Goodrich Capital 8 could dedicate three of its theaters to vampires and another three to cartoons, but could not find room for Lincoln?

I submitted an admonishment on the theater's web site and did not receive a response. On Sunday I took my family to Columbia to watch the movie, and I predict at least two academy awards. It was the kind of movie that proves that movies can be more than just entertainment. Cinema is no less valid as an art form than music, sculpture, literature, poetry, dance, etc. It is somewhat unique combining the best of the other arts into one package.

I was so disappointed that Lincoln had been passed over in favor of cartoons and vampires that I decided to write this letter to the editor. But in the spirit of fairness that Lincoln stood for, I decided to call the theater to ask them what they had to say for themselves. I talked to a very friendly and professional manager named Kyle who assured me that theaters have no control over which movies they get. He gave me no reason to doubt his sincerity, but something they can do is to tell us specifically how we as customers can demand this movie by whomever does make those decisions.

"Wreck-It" Ralph may be a great cartoon inspiring a lot of laughs. "Lincoln," however, is a lifetime experience that will inspire you to examine your internal compass and our collective past, present and future. And it is so very relevant today as a story of how governance can be achieved even during a time of bitter partisanship and division.