For those of you who canceled your HBO subscription after The Sopranos ended – turn it back on immediately. We watched Part 1 and 2 of the John Adams miniseries last Sunday night and were totally blown away.
For awhile I thought Paul Giamatti was going to get stuck in a role rut of the whiny, everyman, loveable loser ala Sideways – but was completely taken aback by his performance in John Adams. Based on David McCoullough’s biography of the same name – Giamatti captures Adams’ role as one of the founding fathers perfectly, both as a brilliant political force, but also as a man who wasn’t the most popular at times – cranky, self-absorbed with an intellectual vanity stemming from being raised by an illiterate farmer. (At least that’s what they allude to in the film). One great example of this is when Adams and his son (John Q – future president) are pitching manure on their farm. John Q. tells his father he’d like to be a farmer when he grows up – John A. tells him to forget about that line of work – “It’s the law for you” Hmmm… here’s a guy willing to offer up his neck to King George’s noose for independence, yet he won’t let his kid pick his profession. God forbid he wants to be a farmer – not hoity-toity enough!
Luckily Adams had a kick-ass wife in Abigail. Laura Linney is also brilliant in this – as much as I love Giamatti, she pretty much takes over any scene she’s in. Supposedly Abigail Adams was the not so silent partner – the poster child for “Behind every man stands a great…” I’ve always kind of hated that expression, but I suppose that’s the best way to describe her. Their years of correspondence are supposedly legendary – her opinion and influence on him gradually forming them into the Unites States’ first political power couple.
In the beginning of the first act, Adams is selected to be defense counsel for the British officers accused of murder after the Boston Massacre. Adams asks Abigail to read and give her opinion on his closing statement. Unimpressed with his windbagginess, Abigail says “You do not need to quote great men to show you are one”.
I would have to say my favorite part is when the Continental Congress starts to get in heated debates over whether to extend the olive branch to Great Britain or declare their independence and go to war. Adams and his cousin Samuel cracked me up with their Southie swaggers – like 1775 versions of the Boston bad boy. You could almost see hints of Will Hunting in Giamatti’s portrayal – a genius who’s also just a kid from Quincy who’ll kick your ass if you start messing with people in his neighborhood. I almost expected him to say to some of the delegates in the Continental Congress who were against declaring independence, ”Do you like Apples? We hold these truths to be self-evident, asshole – How do ya like them apples?” The fact that Giamatti can also convey this attitude in a silly-looking wig and breeches with tights is pretty admirable.
Can’t wait for next week!
Laura Linney makes me forget that hygiene in the 1700’s probably wasn’t, uh, good.
Bruce has been loving it, too! Although some of the geography has him upset — but they couldn’t GET there in a day on a horse! Words I never thought I’d hear from him