'John Adams' miniseries on HBO

[nanwynnfan]

I agree that Wilkinson as Franklin is hard to top. Since "In the Bedroom" he seems to have become the dominant actor in any role he plays, regardless of the size of the part.

Casting Giamatti as Adams and Linney as Abigail was a pure stroke of creative genius.

[nanwynnfan]

I agree that Wilkinson as Franklin is hard to top. Since "In the Bedroom" he seems to have become the dominant actor in any role he plays, regardless of the size of the part.

Casting Giammatti as Adams and Linney as Abigai was a pure stroke of creative genius.

The McCullough book was magnificent as well.

[Bailivia]

Love Giamatti. If you haven't seen it, check out American Splendor. Giamatti is excellent as Harvey Pekar (underground comic book writer from Cleveland)... or maybe I'm just a biased Clevelander?

[yh*]

Originally Posted by marshallz

Man, HBO left every other television operation in the freakin' dust a LONG time ago.

Pretty much everything they do is great...I couldn't imagine having cable without HBO at this point.

You watch shows like The Wire, The Sopranos, Rome, Entourage, and all the rest, and you realize just how awful network TV is. AMC seems to get it...Mad Men and Breaking Bad are both HBO-esque, IMO.

[TylerDurden]

Originally Posted by yh*

Pretty much everything they do is great...I couldn't imagine having cable without HBO at this point.

You watch shows like The Wire, The Sopranos, Rome, Entourage, and all the rest, and you realize just how awful network TV is. AMC seems to get it...Mad Men and Breaking Bad are both HBO-esque, IMO.

HBO's writers and producers are just so smart at recognizing powerful subtext without feeling the need to spell it out like awful network TV would.

Take the latest installment of 'Adams.' You see John Adams at a French aristocrat's dinner party, obviously disgusted at their decadence and excess.

Unwritten, but obvious to most viewers, is that the regular French citizenry at that time were beginning to look upon their country's rich and comfortable in the same light.

Adams is basically surrounded by people who will soon be having their heads chopped off once the people of France get one whiff of a perverted form of the American Revolutionary spirit.

Great writing. Great show.

[marshallz]

I am continually amazed and pleased at the development of the characters in this series, particularly that of Thomas Jefferson.

Quite obviously, he is the most cerebral of the original six or seven important figures.............inventor, botanist, agronomist, author, statesman and philosopher.

Also obvious is the high regard in which Jefferson was held by Adams, and the recognition that Jefferson's selection as VP held tremendous political capital for unification (the cementing of the north and south states)

Really, really high quality and worthwhile stuff to be had on HBO.

[SugarBaby]

Another outstanding actor played John Adams in Amistad, Sir Anthony Hopkins.

[marshallz]

No question.

[John F]

Originally Posted by SugarBaby

Another outstanding actor played John Adams in Amistad, Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Tony Hopkins was actually playing John Quincy Adams in that, Sugar. John's son.

[SugarBaby]

Originally Posted by John F

Tony Hopkins was actually playing John Quincy Adams in that, Sugar. John's son.

Yeah after I posted that I wondered if he played John Adams or John Quincy. He was good though, wasn't he?

[marshallz]

Reprise of the entire mini-series runs on July 4. Seven episodes.

Time to get your TiVo on

[heyterry]

On HBO?

[marshallz]

Yup, HBO 1 I think, Terry. I already activated the TiVo. Check local listings, of course, though.

Godd*mn what a great series. Learned a TON about revolutionary figures. Nice goin' once again, HBO