HBO miniseries: John Adams
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Anyone watched or watching it? And if so, what do you think?
I think Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, two of my favorite actors, are marvelous as John and Abigail Adams. They really capture the close relationship between the two. And David Morse is unbelievable as Washington. He looks just like the guy on the dollar bill and projects the dignified manner most comptemporaries ascribe to ol' George.
Stephen Dillane and Tom Wilkinson are terrific as Jefferson and Franklin, and are the most visible Brits among what appears to be a mostly British production (how embarrassing for us in the States
) -- but they do a great job). Tom Hooper, the director, is no stranger to historical dramas and did Helen Mirren's turn as Elizabeth I for HBO last year. In fact, given that I'm kind of a history and film buff, I think he must have about the best job in the world.
Favorite scenes: Abigail critiquing John's summation in defense of the Redcoats in the Boston Massacre trial and Adams' first meeting with King George III as American ambassador after the Revolution. It's just as it's described in the McCullough bio. The King was very gracious given that Adams was one of the more radical colonists. I thought Giamatti really nailed the conflicting feelings that Adams must have felt under the circumstances, coming face-to-face with his former sovereign for the first time.
Anyway, it's full of wonderful moments like that and if you have the opportunity to see it, check it out.
I think Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, two of my favorite actors, are marvelous as John and Abigail Adams. They really capture the close relationship between the two. And David Morse is unbelievable as Washington. He looks just like the guy on the dollar bill and projects the dignified manner most comptemporaries ascribe to ol' George.
Stephen Dillane and Tom Wilkinson are terrific as Jefferson and Franklin, and are the most visible Brits among what appears to be a mostly British production (how embarrassing for us in the States
) -- but they do a great job). Tom Hooper, the director, is no stranger to historical dramas and did Helen Mirren's turn as Elizabeth I for HBO last year. In fact, given that I'm kind of a history and film buff, I think he must have about the best job in the world.Favorite scenes: Abigail critiquing John's summation in defense of the Redcoats in the Boston Massacre trial and Adams' first meeting with King George III as American ambassador after the Revolution. It's just as it's described in the McCullough bio. The King was very gracious given that Adams was one of the more radical colonists. I thought Giamatti really nailed the conflicting feelings that Adams must have felt under the circumstances, coming face-to-face with his former sovereign for the first time.
Anyway, it's full of wonderful moments like that and if you have the opportunity to see it, check it out.
Comments
That may just be a reaction to seeing a familiar actor made up to look like a familiar historical character (which is think is often a mistake). In fact, I didn't know who it was at first. And it's not just the makeup. I thought Morse's portrayal was excellent. Washington is a tough character to portray, I think, kind of like Lincoln. They've been marble statues in our history for so long. Morse captures the quiet dignity and discipline at the heart of Washington's character but still makes him human. No heroic closeups, but you do get a good measure of the man's greatness, I think. His swearing in as president is a hoot. Just like the book. Washington spoke so softly, no one could hear him.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin is a hoot; the scene where he and Adams rewrite bits of Jefferson's 'Declaration of Independence'---whilst Jefferson squirms---is something with which every writer can identify
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Magnificent. Simply magnificent. A fantastic true story, well told---managing to both humanize and honour a remarkable man and his peers---portraying their genius whilst also putting their flaws on bold display.
For history fans everywhere, I cannot recommend this production highly enough.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Fiona: But of course, I forgot your ego, Mr. Bond. James Bond, who only has to make love to a woman and she starts to hear heavenly choirs singing.
For the most part, I thought the acting was fine, but I still found myself annoyed at the makeup work. Again I had a hard time getting past David Morse's Groucho--err, I mean George Washington--nose; and his heavy makeup didn't make a lot of sense when you consider that Stephen Dillane and Rufus Sewell look nothing like Jefferson and Hamilton, respectively, yet nothing was done to make them up to look like the real deals. Heck, when it comes right down to it, Giamatti doesn't look like Adams and Tom Wilkinson is no Franklin, but those two made do with shaved heads and wigs. Also--and this is always a problem when you have kids in a movie that spans several years--the children didn't age realistically. The third part opens in 1777 and ends in 1781, and the kids never age!
But those are small complaints. It's a great series, one that I hope will open the door to similar treatments of American history.
Your complaints are all valid ones---though I liked Morse's Washington getup more than you did :v I wonder: Did George really sound like Liam Neeson?
Many things, like the kids' ages, etc., seem to me the necessary (if a bit unfortunate) product of condensation, to preserve a fairly impressive amount of literary fidelity without rotating actors to the point that we lose focus on who's who.
Tom Hanks has a great eye for picking projects to produce... {[]
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM