John Adams

Ahh the period miniseries, we love it so.

It’s such a meeting of television and film, with its romantic settings, elaborate costumes, hundreds of extras and grand themes. Shows like Roots, Against the Wind, Water Under the Bridge, Jessica, and The Thorn Birds were marvels of the small screen.

We used to do them so well in Australia, too. With the exception of Underbelly, the miniseries barely sees the light of day anymore here, unless you count those that try to pass themselves off as a miniseries, purely to abet funding.

But America can still open its wallet and throw back to its great pioneering days, and with its rich, theatrical history, it’s done just that for John Adams. You might have heard the name. It swept the Emmy Awards last month, with 13 wins, surpassing Angels in America. Oh, and it also happens to be the name of the second US President.

In fact it’s Tom Hanks who has executive produced this lavish piece, which begins life in Boston in 1770. If Hanks keeps up this sort of patronage they’ll probably turn around and push him into the White House too.

As a lawyer, Adams was asked to defend British troops accused of opening fire during a massacre on local Bostonians, killing innocent men and youths in the street. It is an unpopular brief, but as a man of the law and not raw emotion, Adams takes up the charge. Against the derision of his peers, he fights for truth over local allegiance. In early “courtroom drama” scenes Adams delivers dazzling oratorios that will give rise to a future President.

Subsequent, rioting scenes as a forerunner to the Boston Tea Party will also compel this man of principal to accept political candidacy.

In the pivotal role of Adams is Paul Giamatti (Sideways, American Splendor), a character actor with none of the leading man looks that could have been associated with the role. Thankfully they went for someone with the acting chops to light up the screen. The charismatic Giamatti is simply outstanding.

His gently supportive wife Abigail is played by Laura Linney (You Can Count on Me, Kinsey, Tales of the City), his advisor and true love of 54 years. British actor Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty, Michael Clayton) plays Benjamin Franklin.

Produced by HBO, this seven part series was directed entirely by Tom Hooper (Elizabeth 1) who strikes the right balance between a sense of history and the moral dilemmas of Adams’ personal life. The production values are exemplary here, with no expense spared in staging grand set-pieces to bring this tale to life. It is easy to lose yourself in the sheer spectacle of a romantic, if politically-charged, era.

John Adams is brilliant theatre. Don’t miss it.

John Adams premieres 8:30pm tonight on Showcase.