John Adams on HBO - History Served Piping Fresh

Categorized | Gary Karbon, television

Tags | david morse, hbo, john adams, laura linney

John Adams on HBO - History Served Piping Fresh

Posted on 18 March 2008 by Gary Karbon

I loved David McCullough's biography of John Adams when it was first published a few years back. I still keep my autographed copy among my treasured collection of Special Books.

The 7-part HBO TV mini-series "John Adams" based on McCullough's work did not disappoint me. I'm a history buff. I watched the first two episodes on Sunday night (with a sheepish smile on my face, I'm afraid).

What really left an indelible mark on me the first time I read the book was not only the erudition of this Greek- and Latin-literate "farmer" couple but also the genuine love that John and Abigail Adams clearly had for each other. It's hard to come across such a headstrong, opiniated and yet definitely in-synch couple who addressed each other in their letters as "Dear Friend." The series captured that chemistry very well indeed.

The first two episodes take us from the "Boston Massacre" of March 5, 1770 all the way up to the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the Independence Hall in Philadelphia as Abigail Adams, back at their Braintree farm in Massachusetts, struggles to save their kids from the ravages of a smallpox epidemic.

Did you know that Attorney John Adams actually defended the British troops who were involved in the "Boston Massacre" and had them acquitted? For him the Rule of Law was more important than just going along with the populist sentiments of the day represented by his cousin Sam Adams, the leader of the Sons of Liberty underground organization.

But the fact that the British Throne played every card it had the wrong way inevitably forced Adams to turn down the lucrative official position offered by the King and emerge as a pivotal force in the burgeoning independence movement.

The series portrays John Adams (brought to life by Paul Giamatti, the son of the former Yale President and Baseball Commissioner Bartlett Giamatti) as the spark plug of the revolution. He is the chief negotiator and instigator who convinces an initially fragmented Congress to eventually vote 12-Yes and 1-Abstain (NY) to declare independence.

Thomas Jefferson (Stephen Dillane) by contrast is a mere shadow who lurks in the background and prefers to keep his own silent counsel when Giamatti's Adams is busy delivering one fiery floor speech after another, always seconded by cousin Sam Adams (played by 3rd generation Hollywood star Danny Huston).

Laura Linney (our next Meryl Streep) does a superb job as Abigail. Her measured delivery is never devoid of the kind of warmth that shines forth in the scenes like when the two are gazing across the bay at Boston from a snow-covered hill, or when she hugs him affectionately from behind when John is working late into the night with quill pen in hand on some official business. A candle's quivering flame looked this sublime only in a Vermeer painting.

David Morse has transformed into a George Washington that is hard to believe in its make-believe authenticity, if such a thing exists. Amazing. The tall strapping actor has developed such a convincing persona and speech pattern that from now that's the image I know I'll be entertaining every time I think about GW. From now on life will imitate Morse's art.

Tom Wilkinson also shines as Ben Franklin, the smart, experienced, ever-calculating sage of Philly who is an expert in detecting the direction from which the prevailing winds are blowing. Together with Sam Adams and Virginia's Richard Henry Lee, he helps Adams overcome the initial resistance of states like Pennsylvania and South Carolina to signing the Declaration of Independence.

But after all is said and done this series clearly rides on the mega talent and charisma of Paul Giamatti. PG definitely throws himself wholeheartedly into his role and his performance crackles with the energy and authenticity that we are familiar from his former good work in films like Sideways (2004), Cinderella Man (2005) or The Lady in the Water (2006), to name just a few.

Yet still, in certain scenes with close-ups, one notices a suppressed sense of humor that creates the question whether that also belongs to John Adams. There are a few scenes in which PG seems to be enjoying a private joke to which only he is privy; an unexpected touch of levity that seems to be out of place given the dire conditions of the day.

But then that also softens the hard edges of what could easily have become an overbearing bombastic performance. So in that sense, those intelligent knowing eyes and quick comedic reflexes that served Giamatti well in his other films help us enjoy a down-to-earth portrait of one of the most important political leaders that had ever lived.

Five more episodes to go. Don't you miss it.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Share and Enjoy:

2 Comments For This Post

Monte Williams Says:
April 15th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I would like to know the order of the 7 shows in John Adams. I am taping them and they are named, but I don’t know the order in which I should watch them. Can you help me out?
Gary Says:
April 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Sure thing, Monte. Here are the names of the 7 parts:

Part 1: Join or Die
Part 2: Independence
Part 3: Don’t Tread On Me
Part 4: Reunion
Part 5: Unite or Die
Part 6: Unnecessary War
Part 7: Peacefield