This 2008 HBO miniseries covering the life and times of "John Adams" has been on my "to watch" list for a very long time, and I'm happy I was finally able to make the time for it. Covering Adams' political career from the early days of the American Revolution, through his journeys in Europe, his presidency, and finally old age, it's an epic in every sense of the word. Each of the seven episodes runs over an hour, and the cast is full of familiar names. Front and center are Paul Giamatti as Adams, with Laura Linney as his wife Abigail. The biggest surprise, however, was discovering that the whole series had been directed by Tom Hooper, only a few years before he made "The King's Speech."
I found "John Adams" a more difficult watch than I was expecting, because it assumes the viewer is already very familiar with all the historical figures in play, and I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. Also, the episodes are very dense with information, and the language often requires some focus to interpret, especially if you're not familiar with the politics of the era. I kept being caught off guard when the show would skip ahead in time, sometimes crossing years with a single cut. This is necessary due to the scope of "John Adams." The series covers over fifty years, not only of Adams' career, but of early American history and politics. The famous events like Adams' Presidency and Vice Presidency are covered, but we start in the first episode with Adams' involvement in a court case following the Boston Massacre, where he's taken the unpopular role of representing the British soldiers.
Pains were clearly taken to present a historically accurate, and largely unvarnished look at life in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Though the production design is immaculate, there's not much spectacle on display. Instead, thanks to Tom Hooper's penchant for often uncomfortably close-up shots, we get a good long look at the effects of harsh weather, constant illnesses, and the unfortunate state of Adams' teeth in later episodes. It's a little jarring at first, especially if you're only used to the more idealized and sanitized versions of history, but I eventually came to appreciate the degree of immersion. You really appreciate the dangers presented by things we take for granted like international travel and inoculations. And seeing the difficult environment the founding fathers operated in makes their accomplishments all the more impressive.
John Adams was the cranky old man of the Founding Fathers, a Boston lawyer of great integrity and intellect who often rubbed other people the wrong way. Giamatti is the perfect person to play him, both physically and temperamentally. He easily gets across that Adams is well aware of his faults and his unpopularity, yet sure enough of his own skill and moral fiber to dive into the political arena regardless. There's an insecurity and self-loathing to his actions at times, but also a relentless drive to fight for his own ideals, backed up by the unwavering support of his loving wife. Giamatti is great at both the big speeches and the intimate conversations. Laura Linney as Abigail Adams is thoroughly engaging, matching Giamatti in every scene they share. She also provides the lion's share of the emotion, especially when faced with the prospect of being separated from her husband for long periods of time. The famous partnership between Abigail and John forms the backbone of the whole series, and roughly equal time is spent on their home life and their public one.
And it was the depiction of Adams' private life that I wound up liking best. This is where it feels like the real emotional stakes are, while the Revolution and the founding of the nation are happening far too quickly around them to keep track of. I especially appreciate that the final episode is entirely devoted to Adams' retirement and old age, marked by several tragedies, and ending in his death. It's a deeply humane, sobering capper to a miniseries that managed to completely top my expectations for it. "John Adams" requires some effort, but I found it well worth the time to seek out.
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