John Adams (HBO Films) [2008]

See Larger Image	List Price: £39.99 Our Price: £17.99 Availability: Not yet released Manufacturer: Warner Home Video Starring: David Morse, Justin Theroux, Paul Giamatti, Sarah Polley, Tom Wilkinson Directed By: Tom Hooper Average Customer Rating:


Audience Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over Binding: DVD EAN: 7321902227726 Format: PAL Label: Warner Home Video Manufacturer: Warner Home Video Number Of Items: 3 Publisher: Warner Home Video Region Code: 2 Release Date: 2009-02-02 Running Time: 481 Studio: Warner Home Video Theatrical Release Date: 2008
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Editorial Reviews: Based on David McCullough's bestselling biography, the HBO miniseries John Adams is the furthest thing from a starry-eyed look at America's founding fathers and the brutal path to independence. Adams (Paul Giamatti), second president of the United States, is portrayed as a skilled orator and principled attorney whose preference for justice over anti-English passions earns enemies. But he also gains the esteem of the first national government of the United States, i.e., the Continental Congress, which seeks non-firebrands capable of making a reasoned if powerful case for America's break from England's monarchy. The first thing one notices about John Adams' dramatisations of congress' proceedings, and the fervent pro-independence violence in the streets of Boston and elsewhere, is that America's roots don't look pretty or idealised here. Some horrendous things happen in the name of protest, driving Adams to push the cause of independence in a legitimate effort to get on with a revolutionary war under the command of George Washington. But the process isn't easy: not every one of the 13 colonies-turned-states is ready to incur the wrath of England, and behind-the-scenes negotiations prove as much a part of 18th century congressional sessions as they do today. Besides this peek into a less-romanticised version of the past, John Adams is also a story of the man himself. Adams' frustration at being forgotten or overlooked at critical junctures of America's early development--sent abroad for years instead of helping to draft the U.S. constitution--is detailed. So is his dismay that the truth of what actually transpired leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence has been slowly forgotten and replaced by a rosier myth. But above all, John Adams is the story of two key ties: Adams' 54-year marriage to Abigail Adams (Laura Linney), every bit her husband's intellectual equal and anchor, and his difficult, almost symbiotic relationship with Thomas Jefferson (Stephen Dillane) over decades. Giamatti, of course, has to carry much of the drama, and if he doesn't always seem quite believable in the series' first half, he becomes increasingly excellent at the point where an aging Adams becomes bitter over his place in history. Linney is marvelous, as is Dillane, Sarah Polley as daughter Nabby, Danny Huston as cousin Samuel Adams, and above all Tom Wilkinson as a complex but indispensable Ben Franklin. --Tom Keogh
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: A gritty and honest classic Comment: This is not the story of the US war of independence, nor is this the story of the founding fathers. This really is the story of John Adams the second president of the United States. The mini series goes to great lengths to show the events leading up to 1776 as not just one way. Indeed it's refreshing to show such an even handed account of the causes of the war of revolution. This is underlined by Adams at first despising and then defending a troop of British Red Coats for firing into a crowd of civilians. The war of independence is of course the backdrop for most of the series and yet very little of it is shown, there is a standout scene where Adams is in a brief sea battle but this is largely a costume drama more in the vein of Barry Lyndon than Pride and Prejudice. Everyone has bad teeth, the sets appear to be naturally lit and the clothing all looks very authentic. Indeed if I have one grumble is that there are too many scenes where people are whispering to one another meaning you are constantly turning up and down the volume on your remote. The location shots are lavish; we have Versailles, Hampton Court, sea battles, court rooms and huge (computer enhanced) crowd scenes. The production values are that of a film, the acting is always faultless with the best of both sides of the Atlantic taking this project very seriously and often it's the unspoken details that count. The decadence of the French Court is implied but never really discussed and the meeting between John Adams and George the third is a master class in what not to say to make a scene work. This is a very classy retelling of a fascinating man in a fascinating time, this is well worth a few evenings to watch and enjoy. Customer Rating: Summary: Gripping Review of History Comment: This portrayal of the progression in the definition of democracy and freedom as developed by the American forefathers is gripping and inspiring. "John Adams" is human and beautifully depicts this critical moment in history, showing that through conflict, disagreements, challenging ideas and thoughts, a people can form a seemingly unreachable way of governing. I particularly enjoyed the representations of the stark differences in policy between John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and other forefathers. The acting was terrific, script well-written. I highly recommend this series to all individuals of all ages from all backgrounds. More Reviews