

By Sean O’Connell

Hollywoodnews.com: The not-so-secret screening at the New York Film Festival Monday evening turned out to be the world premiere of Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” a film that is expected to play AFI Fest in Los Angeles before it opens on Nov. 9 (in limited release) and expands on Nov. 16.

How did we know? Because little birds with publicists hats hoping to drum up support for Spielberg’s film dropped well-timed hints to the identity of the film. And because social media lit up like the Fourth of July sky with complaints of beefed up security as audience members tried to get into the evening screening at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center.

“Wait time to enter #NYFF’s Lincoln screening approximately four score and seven minutes,” Matt Patches of Hollywood.com Tweeted.

CinemaBlend’s Katey Rich, also in attendance, added, “Auditorium for 6:15 Lincoln screening is not yet open. It is 6:14. Most of audience still stuck outside w/ their phones. Crazy. Town.”

But were attendees crazy about the film?

In a word: Yes.

Reactions started hitting the Web around 9:25 p.m. ET. Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter summed up his feelings with, “Now [it] belongs to the ages.”

Clayton Davis at Awards Circuit raves, “LINCOLN soars and Spielberg’s best in years #NYFF Tommy Lee Jones, James Spader standouts. Sally field is #Oscar worthy, too.”

“Lincoln’s a real winner… Spielberg’s best movie in years, but the security at the event sucked shit and really put a damper on the night,” said ComingSoon’s Edward Douglas. “Either way, Lincoln should be good for 12 Oscar nominations and 4 easy wins.”

Patches Tweeted, “Spielberg’s Lincoln turns a defining moment in history into a human story. Day-Lewis is dynamic, but it’s a great ensemble piece.”

David Ehrlich of Movies.com and Criterion Corner, however, gave the film a “C” and Tweeted, “Abraham Lincoln: Vote Hunter. best movie ever made for A&E? Spielberg restrained. Musty, redundant, bearded. ddl & tlj = great”

This is merely the first audience reaction to what could be a Best Picture frontrunner. We expect to hear plenty more about “Lincoln” as Spielberg’s drama makes a few more scheduled pit stops ahead of its Nov. 9 bow. For now, “Lincoln” has entered the Oscar race. We’ll continue to track the film’s progress.

Read more of our exclusive Awards coverage:

Our “Silver Linings Playbook” review

Ben Affleck tells us about his ensembles

“Argo” scores raves in Toronto

Amy Adams lends strength to “The Master”

Producer Harvey Weinstein

Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.

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