"John Adams" , based on the book by Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian David McCullough stars Paul Giammatti as Adams and Laura Linney as Abigail Adams in what certainly should be Emmy award winning performances and an overall quality production from start to finish. Tapping into the correspondence of Adams to Abigail and to his friend and rival Thomas Jefferson were key elements in telling this story.
The seven part series follows Adams from his first dabble in politics defending (and getting off) the Boston Massacre British soldiers to his amazing death on July 4th, 1826. Giamatti's performance is perfect for the part of a man who played an enormous part in shaping our country and its foundations without getting much credit. We witness the American Revolution as never before, realistic and gritty; not at all glamorous as we have been taught or seen in painting. David Morse is striking in his role as General Washington; the guy is a dead ringer for our first President. Tom Wilkinson also has a memorable role as Benjamin Franklin whose immorality, even in later years, was legend in life but rarely portrayed in films before this. Stephen Dillane has the powerful role of Jefferson, whose complex relationship with Adams spanned decades and whose correspondence with Adams became a national treasure.
But the mini-series is much more than that. We get a close up look at the Adams relationship and the many contributions Abigail made in counseling her husband. She was his intellectual equal and was an advocate for women's rights early on. Laura Linney's portrayal of Abigail takes many dimensions, as she strains to keep the family together while Adams was away, first at the Continental Congress and then in Europe for three years. Adam's relationship with his children and family are also painfully explored, as tragedy takes its toll on the family in later years.
We also get a realistic look at colonial life; primitive medicine, daily work and toil of farm life, the realistic fear of disease, oral decay in even the most elegant of society members and simple pleasures and recreations.
Through the magic of CGI and remarkable sets built to specifications and on location in Colonial Williamsburg, this is the truest picture of colonial America you will probably ever see.
The widescreen picture tries to bring you into the 18th century with the same lighting and atmospheres that the characters must have lived in; dark , murky lighting with a room illuminated by just a few candles or lamps, dirt and grim everywhere in street scenes, and authentic recreations of the Adam's residences, including the first White House.
Besides the 7 part series, the third disc contains a fascinating documentary on the author of John Adams, two time Pulitzer Prize winning author David McCullough. Through his own words and on camera appearance, the author invites us into his home where the very honest and candid McCullough lays out his work ethic, his methodology for researching his subject, and even takes us on tours of his favorite places from his life. After watching this documentary, you'll want to read his books-its that good.
We also get an in-depth view of the making of the mini-series, with interviews from all major cast members, McCullough, British director Tom Hooper (how ironic). There is also a feature called "Facts Are Stubborn Things" an on-screen historical guide.
The mini-series, "John Adams" is a remarkable look at one of our country's founding fathers and his great contributions to the liberties we enjoy today. It's content, acting, writing, set design, and make-up should sweep the Emmys next year. It is a superior series which I highly recommend to everyone.
