Movie Monday: "John Adams" an HBO series by Tom Hooper

On the recommendation of history colleagues, I found a copy of the HBO Series “John Adams” at the local library, and I’m not disappointed. This historical drama follows the career and presidency of Founding Father John Adams, including his participation in the American Revolution and his activities in foreign arenas like France and Britain during the establishment of the American Government. This series doesn’t avoid the darker aspects of Adams’ experience, and seems to give a balanced view of his life.

Like many HBO series, the acting is on point. Lead Paul Giamatti brings this John Adams to life and reflects his educational background in theater and broadway. David Morse towers over the other characters as bigger-than-life General and President George Washington, and gives a subdued performance as the first leader of the new government. Laura Linney is an excellent Abigail Adams, giving life to the famous first Second Lady and second First Lady of the United States.

As the series opens, Adams (Giamatti) is a successful lawyer in Boston, with wife Abigail (Linney) and children John Quincy, Abigail and Charles. The cries of “Fire! Fire!” echo through his home as British soldiers fire upon a crowd of protesters to Britain’s overreaching influence in the colonies. Adams is the only lawyer in Boston willing to take the case, which opens him up to attacks and criticisms from his patriotic neighbors.

The benefit of a series such as “John Adams” is how human our founding heroes become when treated in a balanced manner. Putting aside the romanticism surrounding the founding of the United States, a student of history will appreciate the nuanced treatment. Additionally, the series does not marginalize the other key members among Founding Fathers (and Mothers), which can sometimes happen when a series focuses on one particular subject, or minimize their influence on the main character. The humanity present in this series brings the founding members down to a relatable level, in particular the balance between work and life, family, religion, and the fundamental principles of the United States.

What I found most instructive is how contentious the developing government of the United States was during the first few years. Every member had their own interests and concepts of who held what power, and the extent of that power over the individual states. As a newer student of early American history, I found these insights informative for future study. Additionally, the sheer weight of what was before the Revolutionary leadership, founding a new country, is not lost on the artists who changed the characters’ appearance based on circumstances. The various epidemics that swept the New England territories, coupled with the stress, play out on the faces of the actors throughout the series.

A viewer hoping to bolster their patriotic feelings will likely feel kinship towards the characters in this historical drama. Students of history will appreciate the perspectives of the film, and the contentious nature as more reflective of reality than the simple founding myths many of us grew up on. There is very little to fault in this series, from my perspective, as there was clearly enough financial support to give “John Adams” a suitable treatment.

Purchase or stream "John Adams" through Amazon

History Notes:

The differences between fact and fiction in historical drama (see historical inaccuracies)

Religion and political backgrounds of the Founding Fathers and others

Family life of John Adams

David McCullough's book "John Adams," inspiration for this HBO series