Steven Spielbergs Lincoln gets mostly positive reviews from New York Film Festival screening

Lincoln has had its first major public screening at the 50th New York Film Festival, with reactions flooding Twitter.

The response was mixed, with the naysayers describing the film as a overlong, dull and ‘a history lesson’, but there was plenty of rousingly positive feedback.

When it comes to praise though, it’s the acting that’s singled out, and not just awards-magnet Daniel Day-Lewis. The ensemble also get plenty of credit, with Tommy Lee Jones emerging as an early favourite.

Check out a sample of tweets below:

Lincoln (C) Not as bad as the trailers suggested but not interesting enough to watch again. A fine history lesson but not much more. #NYFF October 9, 2012

Thoughts on Spielberg's #Lincoln . Where Daniel Day-Lewis is strong & the ensemble is even stronger. ow.ly/ejZoq October 9, 2012

#Lincoln review from its surprise showing at the New York Film Festival!Damn near masterpiece! #NYFF fb.me/24qULYSFs October 9, 2012

Quick awards takeaway on #Lincoln : Day-Lewis for actor, Tommy Lee Jones for supporting, Kushner for screenplay. #nyff October 9, 2012

Daniel Day-Lewis much more understated and playful than the scenery-chewing trailer suggests. #nyff #lincoln October 9, 2012

Spielberg's LINCOLN is the best film Roberto Rossellini never made. Also one of the best Spielberg did make. #notareview October 9, 2012

Spielberg's Lincoln at #NYFF was rock solid monument to Abe, a bounce back from War Horse. Predix: Oscar noms galore. Tommy Lee Jones FTW October 9, 2012

Obvs Oscar hopes for Lincoln, but I admired it more than I loved its savvy, traditional, smart,well-acted bio. Big film, for better/worse October 9, 2012

LINCOLN (C). Abraham Lincoln: Vote Hunter. best movie ever made for A&E? Spielberg restrained. Musty, redundant, bearded.ddl & tlj = great October 9, 2012

LINCOLN is Spielberg's smallest film since ALWAYS. best when portraying a man isolated by incalculable burden. script divided against itself October 9, 2012

Daniel Day Lewis is excellent in Spielberg's LINCOLN, but Tommy Lee Jones steals the picture #NYFF50 October 9, 2012

Lincoln opens in the UK on 25 January 2013 (16 November 2012 in the States).

Matt Maytum is the former Editor of Total Film magazine. Over the past decade, Matt has worked in various roles for TF online and in print, including at GamesRadar+. Bucket-list-ticking career highlights have included reporting from the set of Tenet and Avengers: Infinity War, as well as covering Comic-Con, TIFF and the Sundance Film Festival.