Adams Mark
Posted on | March 20, 2008 at 6:01 am | 5 Comments
I was never much interested in History. I don’t even remember taking many history classes in school. All I remember is that the past bored me to tears, especially American history. As I get older, I’ve found that my tastes and interests are changing, and that I’m becoming more and more fascinated by world history. And I’m finding there’s tremendous gaps in my knowledge. I don’t think my education was very good.
I’m not quite up to the point where I’m watching the History Channel, but I may get there eventually. I especially like viewing historical epics. So I tuned into HBO’s new John Adams miniseries, the first two parts of which aired this past Sunday night. It’s interesting seeing the events played out that formed our country and the many personalities involved. It’s a look into a world that I didn’t know much about, except for the basic facts that every American schoolchild has drilled into him or her. I especially didn’t know much about the titular hero John Adams, other than that he was one of the early presidents and that his son (or father?) was also a president. Just like the fabulous Bush Dynasty. Paul Giamatti plays Adams as a fascinating individual, impartial and beholden to the law when he needs to be, and forceful and resolute when times and events demand that he take action against established authority. Laura Linney plays his no-nonsense wife Abigail, obviously a tremendous force in her own right and a great influence and font of common sense to her husband. These two are the emotional heart of the production, and they make it real. I also like David Morse as George Washington, the Man Who Would Be President. He plays him as a solid, thoughtful general and man-of-action, yet one who still seems somewhat conflicted and tentative at times. Stephen Dillane’s introverted, soft-spoken Thomas Jefferson is also a treat.
I like how the show shines the light on little known (at least to me) events like the Boston Massacre, and yet the stuff we’ve seen and heard a hundred times, like the Boston Tea Party, is shuffled off stage. The first episode has a horrifying tar-and-feathering scene that reminded me of the one in Carnivà le, and shows just how brutal and final that sadistic punishment was. There’s a lot of talking and political wrangling and people deciding the fate of the world in candlelit rooms, and again, the acting, writing and production values make what could be dull somewhat riveting. In an hour’s time, I learned more about the Continental Congress, and what was at stake there, than I ever learned in school.
So I’ll keep tuning in to learn more. Will this conflicted colonial rabble defeat their British oppressors and form their own independent nation? What part will Mr. Adams play in it? I can’t wait to find out!
Latre.
Poignant Search Term Of The Day That Led To This Blog: “corn flakes have almost no fiber”.
Comments
5 Responses to “Adams Mark”
March 20th, 2008 @ 7:48 am
Damn! Now I can’t tell you my major criticism of Adams because it would be a spoiler!
March 21st, 2008 @ 9:57 am
Spoil me, Lisa!
March 22nd, 2008 @ 5:34 pm
The History Channel isn’t about history, it’s about how far they can stretch the definition of “history” to encompass the cheapest documentaries they can find on the market (”The History of Honkin’ Big Trucks”?)… it’s about as bad as public school cirriculum, which is a topic for a whole ‘nother rant.
No, books are where to go for perspective, but you need to find the good authors – or have time to read a lot of them and draw your own conclusions. And I only know about a couple really good history authors, so my education is stalled until I get more free time…
March 23rd, 2008 @ 2:02 am
Have to agree with InfK here — The History Channel is not about history at all. From a broadcast perspective, you know you’re a “history buff” when you start watching “The American Experience” on PBS, hosted by David McCollough, the author of “John Adams”.
John Adams was actually the father of the dynasty, his son John Quincy Adams became the sixth president in 1825. The Adams’ remained the only father-son holders of the presidency until the Bushes in the late 20th century / early 21st century.
I’ve got some more comments here.
March 23rd, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
Gregory, you have a blog now! Most excellent. I look forward to more of your historical and political commentary.
So whenever you have a father/son Presidential dynasty, do they always have to have the same first name too?