HBO's John Adams

Like many history geeks, I was glued to the TV last night for the beginning of the new HBO series, John Adams. It inspired me to do another mini gouache painting this afternoon. I think it came out somewhere between Paul Giamatti and the real John Adams, but it did get me contemplating the role he played in American history. First, a little commentary about the show.

Who would have thought that the goofy, sadsack from Sideways would make a credible John Adams? Not me. So far, he's making it work though. The subtle jokes and sly smiles he shares with Laura Linney (as Abigail) are a tribute to the Adams' famous love affair. History hardly knows such a devoted couple and that element is vital to the story. From a visual standpoint, Mr. Giamatti is doing the best with what he has. There is little real resemblance facially, but he seems to be bringing out the man's character in a believable fashion.

There is an overall gritty realism to this series - from the sets to the clothing - that is the mark of a Tom Hanks directed historical piece. You can almost smell the people and places. The details are all there to delight even the most discerning history geek! I was particularly interested in how they would portray the Boston Massacre. So much conjecture surrounds that incident it seems almost impossible to get it correctly on the screen. Seeing only the aftermath, as Adams did, gives more drama to the trial scenes where Adams defends the British soldiers. The audience isn't tainted by seeing the event so they have to listen to the arguments. Brilliant. It was a defining moment of the man's life so it had be done right....and it was.

I can't wait to watch the rest of this series, I must admit. From the looks of things, they will show that it is possible to portray history accurately and dramatically too. As for John Adams' life, why don't you check out the show, or better yet, read the book that inspired it. John McCullough's biography reads like a novel.

History as entertainment, what a revolutionary concept.