Accent » Spotlight
HBO takes another stab at mini-series
Senior Writer |
March 20th, 2008
TV’s newest miniseries throws viewers back to Revolutionary times. Senior writer Harry Shuldman takes a look at HBO’s rendition of the life of “John Adams.”
Last week marked the bittersweet conclusion of one of the greatest television series of all time, “The Wire.” It’s interesting that a show that documented the decline of an American city would be followed up by a mini-series depicting nothing less than the rise of America itself. “John Adams” won’t fill the gaping void left by the departure of “The Wire” — it’s foolish to imagine that anything could. But that doesn’t mean “John Adams” doesn’t succeed on its own merits. The seven-part miniseries is informative, disturbing, beautifully shot and occasionally even funny.
When we first meet John Adams ( Paul Giamatti), the future second president of the United States, he is actually fighting for the British. Well, not fighting, but as a trial lawyer he does defend the soldiers who fired on a crowd in what would come to be known as the Boston Massacre. Naturally, this doesn’t go over so well with some of his patriot friends, like Samuel Adams and Benjamin Franklin. But make no mistake: John Adams was no redcoat. He’s just a passionately stubborn man who was simply arguing on the side of the law. Sure enough, by the end of the episode, he
becomes the most outspoken member of the Continental Congress arguing for independence from the British Empire.
Giamatti, who before this role would have been mostly associated with a cranky wine enthusiast or the blue-faced villain in a Frankie Muniz comedy, might not seem to be the ideal candidate for a period role. But he embraces the part with considerable fortitude — and no, he doesn’t look as goofy in a powdered wig as one might think.
Fighting the war at home is Abigail Adams ( Laura Linney), John’s faithful wife and the intellectual ying to his yang. In the brief glimpses we get of home life for the Adams family, it’s easy to see that John was not an easy man to live with. He’s not exactly the greatest father to his children, and he’s hardly a romantic. Though it’s hard not to take your work home with you when that work is appointing someone to write the Declaration of Independence and forming the Continental Army.
“John Adams” airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on HBO.
Last week marked the bittersweet conclusion of one of the greatest television series of all time, “The Wire.” It’s interesting that a show that documented the decline of an American city would be followed up by a mini-series depicting nothing less than the rise of America itself. “John Adams” won’t fill the gaping void left by the departure of “The Wire” — it’s foolish to imagine that anything could. But that doesn’t mean “John Adams” doesn’t succeed on its own merits. The seven-part miniseries is informative, disturbing, beautifully shot and occasionally even funny.
When we first meet John Adams ( Paul Giamatti), the future second president of the United States, he is actually fighting for the British. Well, not fighting, but as a trial lawyer he does defend the soldiers who fired on a crowd in what would come to be known as the Boston Massacre. Naturally, this doesn’t go over so well with some of his patriot friends, like Samuel Adams and Benjamin Franklin. But make no mistake: John Adams was no redcoat. He’s just a passionately stubborn man who was simply arguing on the side of the law. Sure enough, by the end of the episode, he
becomes the most outspoken member of the Continental Congress arguing for independence from the British Empire.
Giamatti, who before this role would have been mostly associated with a cranky wine enthusiast or the blue-faced villain in a Frankie Muniz comedy, might not seem to be the ideal candidate for a period role. But he embraces the part with considerable fortitude — and no, he doesn’t look as goofy in a powdered wig as one might think.
Fighting the war at home is Abigail Adams ( Laura Linney), John’s faithful wife and the intellectual ying to his yang. In the brief glimpses we get of home life for the Adams family, it’s easy to see that John was not an easy man to live with. He’s not exactly the greatest father to his children, and he’s hardly a romantic. Though it’s hard not to take your work home with you when that work is appointing someone to write the Declaration of Independence and forming the Continental Army.
“John Adams” airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on HBO.
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