JOHN ADAMS

JOHN ADAMS - 2008

RATED - TV-14. There is a scene of a naked man getting tarred and feathered (full frontal nudity) and a scene of John Adams' daughter being prepared for surgery with one breast fully exposed on the operating table. Both scenes are relatively brief.

RATINGS - 213 Amazon (4.5/5), 56,175 Netflix (4.4/5), 3.432 IMDB (9.1/10).

STARRING - Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney.

AWARDS - Best Actor Award (Giamatti) at Monte-Carlo TV Festival & 3 nominations.

STORY - This made for TV HBO mini-series is outstanding. Based on the book of the same title by David McCullough (watch the extra interviewing him), it is excellent history as well as character study. If Adams was the somewhat cranky but brilliant statesman he is said to be, Paul Giamatti plays it to perfection. Laura Linney is also brilliant as Abigail Adams, every bit the intellectual and emotional equal of John (the film does a great job of showing the important role she played). The more we see of the real history of our founding and its architects, the more amazing the story becomes. These were not perfect men or saints as sometimes is portrayed but flawed human beings with great ideas and the will to persevere and sacrifice personal interests in implementing them. There also was not the harmony and unity that is often implied. Our country was put together in the crucible of debate and compromise and hammering out some very different viewpoints as to what the country should look like. Adams and Jefferson (also portrayed very well by Stephen Dillane) were two opposites in philosophy and personality but who were able to work together (most of the time) for the good of the country (a novel idea for today's politicians). A great story about the founding of America. By the way, did you know BOTH Jefferson & Adams died on July 4, 2026, exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/19/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, THE BOOK