MyDD :: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1

HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1

by a gunslinger, Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:02:37 AM EST

The first in a series of Gunslinger's observations that while are in the realm of America...have absolutely NOTHING to do with the continuing and bothersome fight between the HRC and BHO camps.

So, tonight...I wish to discuss John Adams. I have seen some great work produced by HBO films, but ladies and gents, if you have not heard of or seen John Adams...take a load off, take a break from the campaign here and bear witness to the story of REAL fighting and REAL trouble.

The movie is of course a adaptation of McCoullough's brilliant biography of Adams, his family, and his role as the sort of the heart of the revolution. Where Washington was the man of action, the reluctant but brave general, and Jefferson was the brains and the soul of the revoultion....it was Adams who risks more, and is the heart and guts of the effort...and the one who gets little of the credit. Washington and Jefferson are the ones, no?

Anyway, the acting is superb, and Tom Wilkinson as Ben Franklin steals nearly every damn scene he is in. It is historically accurate, well-written, and if it doesn't sweep next years emmys....color me shocked.

Oh and it is produced by Tom Hanks too!

Tags: patriotism, hillary, obama (all tags)

Permalink :: 15 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (none / 0)

I wish I had HBO, this show looked hella cool. But I had to choose between buying baby formula and HBO.

To be fair, I did have to think about it for awhile.

Serious question- Is This Snark?

by ragekage on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:05:19 AM EST

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (none / 0)

ah formula.... have you tried it yet? don't lie to guns!

by a gunslinger on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:09:41 AM EST

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (none / 0)

Oh God, no. The thought makes me nauseated. I can't believe she drinks that stuff. Or how she turns it into what it comes out as. Yeech.

Serious question- Is This Snark?

by ragekage on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:19:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (none / 0)

Get to it, dude. Try it once...you know you are tempted...you gotta KNOW.

by a gunslinger on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:30:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (none / 0)

I've missed parts of the episodes, but so far, it's pretty good. But man, it's hard to accept Paul Giamatti as Adams. He's one of my favorite actors, but it's a bad fit.

Then again, it's not like there's a lot of short, pudgy actors out there famous enough to star in an HBO series.

by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:18:51 AM EST

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (2.00 / 1)

It is excellent, and this is coming from a constitutional scholar with a bias towards Hamilton and Jefferson over Adams.

Great diary.

Rec'd.

NO 100 year WAR, NO McConnell run Senate, & NO GOP-led Supreme Court!!!

by Veteran75 on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:23:08 AM EST

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (none / 0)

I love the mini-series as well. I am glad a non primary based diary was written as well.

by Xris on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:29:39 AM EST

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (2.00 / 1)

Yeah..I figured it was about damned time.

I love the series. The production, the writing, the art..all of it.

Adams was a major figure in our revolution, and was more passionate than the rest of the fathers.

Of them all, Jefferson was my personal favorite. I love his writing and the measured way in which he appraoched everything.

BTW, w/out the french...we'd have been f*cked.

by a gunslinger on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:33:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (none / 0)

I have learned a lot from this mini-series. It kind of made me embarrassed for not knowing more about our founding fathers.

In regards to Jefferson, is his portrayal in the series fairly accurate? From reading his letters I figured he was a little more lively than he was depicted.

by Xris on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:37:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (none / 0)

Given McDougall's influence in the writings, I must say that Jefferson must have very much like he is portrayed.

I like the idea that a President could be a deliberate, poetic, and reasoned person.

These days a man such as Jefferson would be regulated to the sidelines.

by a gunslinger on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:43:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (2.00 / 1)

Well I am definitely enjoy it and I hope more networks start realizing that historical shows can be enlightening and entertaining. It sure beats Big Brother 42 THIS TIME WITH LITTLE PEOPLE!

by Xris on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 01:50:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

But with a British Director! (none / 0)

I can't believe they hired a British Director for this, which has been pretty good.

After I read the book on Adams, I read two books on Franklin because they disliked each other so much.

I came to the conclusion that Franklin the politician is not appreciated nearly enough.

And I like the idea of titling your diary to show it wasn't about BO and HRC.

by fladem on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 02:41:52 AM EST

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (2.00 / 1)

I completely agree. I've been very impressed with the miniseries. And I actually think Paul Giamatti is fairly well cast. Laura Linney is fantastic as Abigail Adams. It's such a fascinating window into a very underappreciated founding father. And this diary was a nice breather from the rampant BHO-HRC hatred on this site.

by godemsin08 on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 05:36:20 AM EST

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (none / 0)

Thanks. I think I am going to do one of these Non-Election Diaries a day. America-related, but with no whiff of the election.

I thinbk that because Adams was something of a sourpuss and not a particularily patient man, he was kinda left out of the greats.

by a gunslinger on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 12:03:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: HBO's John Adams: Non-Election Entry 1 (2.00 / 2)

I agree. My wife and I have been watching it religiously. It's almost too bad that Abigail Adams couldn't run for President, America's first feminist.

A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy. - Teddy Roosevelt

by minvis on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 04:28:17 PM EST

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