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John Adams
(2008),
Director: Tom Hopper, Rated TV-14
He United the
States of America.
  Starring:
Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, Stephen Dillane, David Morse, Tom
Wilkinson, Rufus Sewell, Justin Theroux, Danny Huston, Sarah
Polley, Andrew Scott, Željko Ivanek, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, John
Dossett
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"It is one thing to
turn the other cheek, but to lie down in the ground like a snake
and crawl toward the seat of power in abject surrender, well,
that is quite another thing, sir. And I have no stomach for it,
sir! No stomach at all!" – John Adams
Why watch this? It's
a history lesson we need to understand now more than ever.
Plot Summary:
This seven-part miniseries chronicles the life of Founding
Father John Adams, starting with his defense of British soldiers
after the Boston Massacre and his pivotal role in the American
Revolution. The plot follows his journey as a devoted husband
and dedicated statesman, serving as a diplomat in Europe, the
first Vice President, and eventually the second President of the
United States. It highlights his often turbulent personal life,
strained political relationships, and his profound, unwavering
partnership with his wife, Abigail.
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Dad's Preview:
Based on the book by David McCullough, this in depth character
study centers on the pivotal years for one of America's most
influential early political figures. As with any historical
biopic, historians (rightfully so) picked it apart. I simply
suggest that all mediums portray history in somewhat
fictional terms - it helps the story move along better. You
will have to look long and hard to find a better accounting of
early American life. This does not play like a lavish BBC period
piece. There is a rawness, an honesty, at work here and it feels
like an organic account of the original colonies and their
struggles. I loved Paul Giamatti as Adams, again, because he
feels like a real person. Laura Linney also captivates as his
wise spouse and informal council. I have to applaud the great
Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin. His performance is so good,
you'll overlook that he is 5-inches taller than the real
Prophet of Tolerance. This stellar effort garnered a slew of
TV awards. |
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High Noon
Productions, Playtone, Mid Atlantic Films; HBO Films |
