by Shoshanna Mccollum

Created on: April 12, 2009

John Adams: A President for our Times

With the turbulent times we live in, identifying with the large stone faces carved on the side of Mt. Rushmore can be difficult. That's why examining the life of our second U.S. President in HBO's television mini-series "John Adams" makes so much sense right now. Based on David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize winning book, this seven-part adaptation gives us a fresh glimpse into very volatile time in our young nation's history. In 2008 "John Adams" went on to win a record 13 Emmy Awards as well as 4 Golden Globes.

Among the casting decisions, Paul Giamatti, turns the role of Adams into a fully fleshed and multidimensional character. Laura Linney gives us a faithful rendition of the icon first lady Abigail Adams. Among the supporting roles, David Morse is a surprisingly believable George Washington.

The screenplay spans over a period of slightly more than fifty years. First we are introduced to John Adams the young Boston lawyer, a man not as wealthy or charismatic as his beer brewing cousin Sam, but respected by the people of Boston his ability to offer fair defense even when to do so is not the popular thing. Revolution is eminent, but in Philadelphia deals still must be brokered to make it so.

By the third episode one can only have sympathy for the stiff and serious John Adams as a diplomat in Europe. He is the strait man in a bad comedy act as his political colleague Ben Franklin woos the people of France with his wit and charm. Restraint and humility do not come easily for Adams as an Ambassador or the nation's first Vice President. Yet he achieves grace under pressure and ultimately the Presidency.

By the final installments we see a brilliant but often rigid man who has paid a dear price both personally and professionally in order to maintain his moral fortitude. In old age Adams has experienced life's joys and sorrows. He lives to see his eldest son, John Quincy become the sixth President of the United States as well as the nation he helped foster look to the future. With death comes the redemption of a life lived.

The one complaint that must be registered is that the screenplay adaptation deviated from historical record concerning the lives Adam's adult children, Charles and Abby. As the DVD historical guide is titled: "Facts are Stubborn Things"- So when history is compromised for artistic license, a serious risk exists for inaccuracies to be absorbed into our popular culture believed as fact.

While John Adams may never be immortalized on the side of a mountain, this founding father with his very human flaws reminds us that the challenges this country may face in war, economics and politics in general are nothing new. We can also take comfort in the fact that this nation has managed to endure and improve upon itself.

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