Roundup: Why Abe isn’t gay (or straight) in ‘Lincoln’

Was Abraham Lincoln secretly gay or bisexual? Playwright and “Lincoln” co-writer Tony Kushner believes there’s ample reason to speculate that he may have been, but you won’t find any such suggestions in Steven Spielberg’s recently-released film. Why? Because matters of sexuality have no place in this particular strand from Honest Abe’s political career, says Kushner. “I wanted to write about a very specific moment and I chose this moment and I don’t feel that there was any evidence at this particular moment that Lincoln was having sex with anybody,” he tells Tom O’Neil. “I don’t say in my movie whether the Lincoln character was gay or straight. You can ask Daniel (Day-Lewis) what he was playing, but it did not seem to me a thing to make a movie about now.” [Gold Derby]

With the screams from last night’s UK premiere of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2” still ringing in my ears, yours truly weighs in on the film’s demented merits. [Time Out

While previous winner Kathryn Bigelow looks to be the only female director in the main Oscar hunt this year, Alissa Simon notes, more encouragingly, that 11 women are in the race for the foreign-language Oscar. [Variety

Nathaniel Rogers and friends talk Oscars, “Lincoln,” “Flight,” “Holy Motors” and even Jodie Foster. Love these podcasts. [The Film Experience]

R. Kurt Osenlund weighs up the Oscar prospects of “Lincoln,” concluding that the film is the clear Best Picture frontrunner. I can’t say I agree. [Slant]

Channing Tatum takes the honor of People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2012. I would rather he was in the Best Actor race for “Magic Mike” and/or “21 Jump Street,” but hey, it’s something. [People

Glenn Whipp examines the Best Actress race, and reckons that only Jessica Chastain and Helen Mirren can come between Jennifer Lawrence and the podium. [The Envelope]
Oscar-nominated director John Madden reflects on the process of making the year’s most popular non-Bond Britflick, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” [Below the Line]
Marvel chairmen Kevin Feige has been named the Motion Picture Showman of the Year by the Publicists of the International Cinematographers Guild, also known as the IATSE Local 600. (Either way, a mouthful.) [The Race]
Uggie the Wonder Dog refuses to go away: the cutest cast member from reigning Best Picture winner “The Artist” has an autobiography out. [The Telegraph]
And finally, no link here, but please join me in wishing one Mr. Kristopher Tapley a very happy birthday. Have a good one, sir.
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