John Adams: Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney (HBO)

[Alvin691]

I cry every time I watch this series. The bravest of the brave, what they did for us.

[TheLordHodne]

Brilliant cast. I was perticulary impressed by George Washington's character, it was wonderful

[psyrmc]

great to see Paul actually gets a big role!

he had been underrated for too long.

[VintageWhiteTerror]

I think some people are missing the point of this series. It's about an unsung hero who defied an empire to create the USA- and keep a family together. Remember, throwing terms like "liberals" around is idiotic, because political terms had different meanings at this time. If anything, the differences Adams had with Congress during his Vice Presidency are meant to mirror the political discordances of today.

[thatsmyrail]

Back in the day when Americans were still honorable, smart people.

[Beergut222]

I've watched this series, and I'm so sad that liberals and Democrats have systematically torn apart what our founding fathers so narrowly created for the rest of us.

[twostrokeornill1]

I'm re-watching it now, and It's even better that the first time. A1

[nphanlon1973]

a great series for a great man

[OhmygodSportacus]

Loved this miniseries, I'm from Canada and not too fond of American gloating but this series presents everything in such a straight manner it feels like you're actually watching it there without any agenda or anything behind it, very informative and inspiring.

[WiseGuy5674]

They must have been blown away when they saw the finished product.

The most important min-series of our time.

[ninthcrusade]

A great series. I would recommend every new member of the 112th Congress sit and watch it from start to finish.

[canadarox14]

I love this series. I wish someone would make something similar about Canadian confederation or Mexican independence. So many good historical stories out there, just waiting to be told.

[theSneakySasquatch]

Greatest documentary series EVER. period.

[VFKacefairytopia]

He did an AMAZING job, and I LOVEEE this series. I wish ALLLL movies could be like this. I absolutely love History. I love love love History.

[MrAwesomekrew]

25665595

[spyletu]

good. hollywood actors could stop making junk films for a change n actually have some badly needed history lessons many rest in the country are already way ahead in.

[cosmicdingo]

You right wing assholes can't accept a straightforward piece of storytelling w/o smeering your right wing insecurities on it. Go get therapy, its good for the economy.

[WiseGuy5674]

@cosmicdingo ..this is a series that liberals watch as fiction..a good story..that it.

Fact is, anything a right-winger says about it is normally true...angry leftists can't stand the truth....so they re-write it. GOOD DAY TO YOU SIR!

[orangenblue7]

I haven't been able to watch any films on Netflix since watching this series three times. What could be better than this?

[samm1809]

@orangenblue7 a jefferson spinoff? XD

[nef533]

I must have killed HBO to make a series without a huge liberal slant and include facts rather than theory about the greatness of socialistic principals. (I haven't finished the series yet I'm still waiting for their agenda to rear its head)

[jihadbreath]

@nef533 LOL! You're soooo right! You are my new favorite person this week. I like you better than Socrates or Andrew Wyeth.

[QueenZelma]

I suppose Tom Hanks is willing to *pretend* (aka "acting") patriotism in order to make money (an amount Obama most definitely would consider waaay "too much.") I don't know how anyone can know our history & BE a liberal / progressive / statist. The mindset of Obama, Inc. is in opposition to the founding principles of our nation & our Constitution.

[chevalier783]

0:31 What is the Dutch flag doing there? Dutch settlement?

[LambadLambadLambda]

Laura Linney looks really sexy in this video.

[SW189]

Polical parties always frustrate me, and both republicans and democrats are guilty of this, because just as Washington and Adams feared, its become where people are more concerned with doing whats best for their party instead of whats best for their country, and NO, neither side is right 100% of th time and both sides have good ideas and that is what I believe these men would find the most dissapointing is our failure as a nation to put petty differences aside and focus on the greater good

[scott04la]

A fun way to brush up on history while educating oneself during the current big government takeover of the US. These guys worked so hard to ensure freedom - now we must work hard to preserve it by voting in constitutional conservatives in the midterm and 2012

[hannigan06]

Piss posh. Neither party is suitable for running this country as intended. We need a President and a Vice to be certain. But I liked it how the votes skill mattered. Who ever comes in second is vice president. Popular voting regardless of party divide is a must.

[hannigan06]

We need a Adams Jefferson kind of Political system. I hate conservatives and democrats. I found myself one of the few people to have voted in 2008 election. As both parties were unsuitable for election. Now it seems that Palin has interest in having another way into the white house.

I refuse to vote for her. An any one that supports her for vice President. Steven Colbert is more suitable to be President then her.

[jmitterii2]

@scott04la nice political ad. Now let me rebutt it. Do little government is exactly the problem. Glass-Steagel sep on banking and wall street done away w/by republican "gov is bad" mentality. This is poor thinking, Reagen was an ass to have said this... the problem is poor laws and removal of good ones brought to you by Conservatives and even libritarian and constitutionals. The gov is of the people for the people by the people. Vote on facts, and vote anyway you want ignore political diks

[jmitterii2]

@scott04la nice you had to do your poltical ad huh.

Really, just do research and vote true facts. Ignore the political nut cases out there. And no, gov is not bad. Otherwise you are saying a gov of by and for the people is bad.

And make sure you all go vote, this perserves our gov from crazy people. That is unless we've all gone crazy LOL!

[TripleEBoss]

America back then was to be a great country where everyone would be free. Even to this day that goal hasn't been met. There is still Prejudice and hate groups. America was NOT founded by the White man. America was founded by the Germans, Spaniards, French, Englishmen, Scotish, Danish. Ammrica was founded by many nations. Why can't groups like the KKK understand that? America was also founded by Catholics which the KKK despise. America was founded for everyone. America may meet it's goal one day.

[bluetube01]

I agree with you, but you said America wasn't founded by the white man and then named a bunch of countries that are predominantly white, European nations. Germans, French, English, Scottish, Danish, etc., are all "white" nations.

The KKK are obviously fools.

[monkaboy]

Do you suggest that hate groups that actively protested other races did not exist in the American Revolution era?

[AndyJackson1776]

we have to remember our loyalty truly lies with free-humanity. it does not matter what you call your home...what matters is that you have the choice to call a place your home. authoritarianism will always be in the shadows, waiting to poke its head out. what matters is we don't forget that country and borders don't mean a thing. freedom is my country. liberty is my nation.

[RaditzRules]

"America was NOT founded by the White man. America was founded by the Germans, Spaniards, French, Englishmen, Scotish, Danish"

-dude I think that is the definition of white people

[EverythingAustin]

@RaditzRules: Newer textbooks are using the term "Euro-American" to distinguish the white population . . . . . seems less crass than white.

[chopin65]

@EverythingAustin Is that true?

[NJRocks281]

wtf are you bringing up the KKK for? They hit their death bed almost 100 years ago. Judging the USA by the KKK is like judging Mexico for drug violence.

[6000pounds]

Paul Giamatti, one of the best actors of all time.

[visserde]

I agree Paul Giamatti is one of the greatest actors i have ever seen, in all his movies he makes sure that you feel what the person feels.

[TriumVirateABAP]

Benjamin Franklin is famous for his sense of humor. In 1751, he wrote a satirical commentary in his Pennsylvania Gazette suggesting that as a way to thank the Brits for their policy of sending convicted felons to America, American colonists should send rattlesnakes to England.

The Gadsden flag:

Don't Tread on Me

[Vruk88]

Incredible minisieries, with great acting by the entire cast. I'm not a citizen of the USA, yet I felt very attached to the story. It was presented in both a patriotic and a personal way to which we could all relate to, rather than over-the-top chauvinism.

I tip my hat to HBO and the crew behind the series, bravo!

[bluetube01]

I am Canadian myself and this miniseries was beautiful. It's hard to call American history boring after watching it come to life. For anyone who hasn't read the book by David McCullough, it is far better than the (superb) mini-series (and with a lot more information).

[JNuGoo]

I'm a teacher and I showed it in my class :).

[drudge20]

There is a new mini series coming up David Rockerfeller.How America was lost to Big greedy bankers. Bailouts anyone.

[x1crazyllama123]

actually we watched this in my american history class few weeks ago :)

[caragea2002]

Paul,Laura and Tom Wilkinson deserved not only a Golden Globe but an Oscar for this movie!!! absolutely amazing!! pure history

[iakny]

Without a doubt! This was greatness on television, truly one of the greatest performances you will ever see.

[markbrantjb]

Absolutely needed in our public schools. A fresh look at what really went on. The dedication, the selfless service in the cause of Freedom, and the creation of the greatest country in the world...intended to be different from those European, socialistic regimes that we see. I read the book cover to cover-couldn't put it down. Bought the movie and wept and laughed and wondered-where is the dedication today, the tireless effort to do the hard work of the people-instead of political gamesmanship.

[Mesterse]

First of all I'd protest your use of the term "socialistic regimes", since socialism means the state owning the means of production which isn't the case in _any_ European nation. Secondly, many of our nations actually above the US in having a good business climate. My own country, Denmark, being number one (while at the same time having the highest tax rate in the world).

[canadarox14]

Yeah, I'm going to have to object to the "USA greatest country" comment. I have a great appreciation for American history, because so much of it helped to shape my country, Canada. People like John Adams did incredible things, and I'm in their debt, just like you. But saying that the US is the greatest country in the world seems a little closed minded. All of our countries are so interconnected.

[iakny]

For everyone, their country is the greatest in the world. I won't be surprised if you feel the same about Canada. Its just human nature. I always say that New York City is the best city in the world, but that is my opinion and may or may not be a fact.

[webbj123]

Actually the definition includes for the government administration of economic policies also. But how does one define a good business climate? From 1982 to 1989 the U.S. had the largest and the fastest growing economy in the world. I have no doubt European's are very happy with their nations and economy, but I think it is impossible to define one as better than the other. Although this is changing, America was founded on Capitalism and low taxes, which is why socialism is hard to accept her

[FranklyMisterShankly]

Actually, what I really loved about the series was its absence of historical monumentalism and flag waving nationalism. As a viewer, I always empathised with the John Adams character, without necessarily agreeing with him. Lastly, if you think there was an absence of political gamesmanship back then, you weren't watching the series very carefully.

[IrisMG]

Very good show. That said, letters and David McCullough's riveting biography can only do so much, then the rest is left up to the imagination! I think they took the best parts of the McCullough book and did a great dramatization, that is, it certainly not hard to imagine the events transpiring as they were depicted, but one should read the book in order to get, as the late Paul Harvey would say, a very good interpretation of the rest of the story!

[TheActressChick]

man, this mini-series is AMAZING. These two actors are brilliant and just wow.

[creativeprofiteer]

An honorable piece of work.

[crazychel]

hey both won SAG awards as well! yess! love this series! It really opens your eyes to what exatly our founding fathers went through to make our country the great place it is today!

[courtneysnana5]

they also won emmy's for best leading actor and actress in mini series. I just loved this and plan on buying the dvd's

[joehughes9]

This is one of the finest mini-series I've ever seen.Great news that they both won Golden Globes.Well deserved.Also Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin won too.John Adams's name is not well known in the U.K. so it was interesting to see the role he played in the creation of the USA.

[CarmelleandJacob]

Everyone should see this series

[soxman17]

I rented this series through Net Flix and loved it. I couldnt wait for the next DVD to come in the mail. Paul and Laura were outstanding.

[tempusfugit68]

Oh, for another John Adams! Almighty God please send us another John Adams.

[TsugaC]

Cbizrap,

Yes, indeed, worship of the state and socialism is nothing short of a complete rebuke of what the Founding Fathers had hoped for us.

[avnkmc]

OMG I loved Laura's eyes! so wonderful! I prefer her with that color hair ♥ :D

[iLY0X8]

if anyone would...

i would really like to watch this miniseries.

i didn't have hbo, nor do i have the money to purchase it on dvd. i can't find it anywhere on the internet, so i'm hoping that if anyone who reads this is able, will upload it to youtube. thank you!

[livingdaedge]

get it at the libray, its free.

[cbizrap]

It was sad for me to watch this series. Knowing that these men fought and died for ideals that no longer exist in this country. How far we've fallen from our original state.

[hannigan06]

@cbizrap Question is not that we have fallen. But are we going to get up. We the people of the United States of America mold our country in our own image. Can you have kids that you can teach these lost qualities to in order to bring it back once they are adults. There is nothing lost that can't be found. We had to lose it to understand how much we would miss it. Now we just have to get it back and we can get it back. Because like the founding fathers We to are Americans!!!

[EverythingAustin]

@cbizrap : We've simply adapted with the different scores of ethnic groups we have, but we still have many of those ideals in our psyche and many don't realize it. Our work ethic, the drive to better ourselves in our education and class, our individualism . . . . .

Its ok to adapt to a changing world, stay positive about it :D our ideals will be there.

[Ambar88]

@cbizrap - You can spend your life in sadness and glorify ideals that are based on the context of television programmes and movies, or you can face reality and realize that there never was and never will be a "golden age", only nostalgia.

[guitarthroat]

@cbizrap It is the natural course that civilizations built by man will inevitably take over the generations. But I have faith that someday, maybe not in our lifetime; Americans will awaken and take back what has been so unjustly and ungratefully exploited by the perversions of power-drunk politicians and the elite wealthy. Let us remind all that self-made, working men built this great nation and experiment we call America.

[forman1200]

@cbizrap They do exist, just very hidden by disgusting cultural forces. That being said, I am in love with Laura Linney.

[cbizrap]

@forman1200 well now that bin laden is dead, perhaps we can get some of our civil liberties back? Just saying. And to me Laura Linney is the ideal wife.

[PoetsLight]

@cbizrap They saw in the Europe of their day what America could become in the future, and created the Constitution, state's rights, and separation of powers. All of which were perverted by demagogues on both sides of the aisle. Now we are the Europe we fears to become. The Fathers are turning in their grave.

[DeadEnterprise]

@cbizrap AMEN! God save our american sates

[dianelyramos]

@cbizrap Choked up reading this :/

[progressiverebel]

@cbizrap I don't know about ideals you say you have lost but mine are intact. John Adans is my 7th cousin, Washington is 2nd. Many famous Americans are somehow related to our family, and we have fought in ever single war going back 400 years. A line unbroken of military service to 1607/1620.We have never given up our ideals and we still belive in our country. Neighbor,how stands the Union?" you better answer the Union stands as she stood, rock-bottomed and copper-sheathed, one and indivisible!!

[bbenjers]

Laura Linney has such beautiful eyes.

[cameron0462]

apollo 13. saving private ryan.

and then producing from the earth to the moon, band of brothers and john adams.

i knew there was a reason i loved watching him while growing up, in movies like Splash and Turner and Hooch and BIG. great American actor.

Great American

[Doza130]

Giamatti stole the show. To call him great is this would be an understatement.

[jpcohen1978]

Bravo!!

[mortsey]

I am glad that the content of these shows has finally made it to film. America was founded on greatness, Greatness of ideas, Greatness of Character and Greatness of personalities. Adams certainly embodied all of these.

That said, and I don't mean to be irreverent, but I can't watch Paul Giamatti and not think of the little blue man in the movie "Big Fat Liar". LoL. Not that he wasn't great as Adams.

[olbigdik]

Thank You, Mr. Hanks! The very best television I have ever seen. Bravo to all of the actors, truly amazing work.

[jimthewebguy2000]

This movie just sends a message home exactly what was sacraficed to build a country, no matter the flaws it has or has had, but to realize a handful of people assembled such an amazing part of this country is sooooo mind blowing. And Paul was absolutely spot on this role. BRAVO and reason number 1900000 to like him as an actor.

[ChristinaRhys]

Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti should both receive Emmys for this production.  It is absolutely riveting.

[Genius523]

I agree, brilliant.

[WayneDavis60]

Absolutely Amazing!! After watching all the episodes, it's clear that Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti were the perfect casting matches for their parts. Wonderful story, extremely well presented. If this doesn't win an award, I don't know what will. Bravo!!

[himherandit]

This show is very well-made! Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti have great chemistry!

[rosanawan]

Very opposite from the couple in Nanny diaries. Paul Giamatti was Mr. X & Laura Linney was Mrs. X.

[lovetotalkwithu]

mrs x is hot.

[walls06]

Paul did a fantastic job as John Adams!

[benzride]

Thank you, Paul, for your heartfelt acting. True acting is an innate gift that stems from the heart and doesn't need to be propped up by all the trash we see so much of today.

[briesansotta]

I loved the first several episodes - kind of bogged down thereafter. Giametti and Linney were just fabulous. The other actors were great also -Morse, as Washington was the best Washington I have seen - and I have seen MANY.

[naboba]

paul killed it! .. what a fuckin great job he did , so on point!

[elyblue222]

No one other than Paul Giamatti could've played this part! He was fantastic, as was Laura Linney. This was a terrific series I could watch over and over. Thanks Mr. McCulleum for writing this, and thank you to Tom Hanks and those who produced it!

[clayp72]

For me it's the best thing since the Sopranos from HBO. I can't wait for the DVD set to come out. Watching it makes you realize the pack of mere baboons we now have in Washington D.C.

[christy340]

Paul Giamatti gave the performance of a lifetime as John Adams!!

[Anglynn74]

This miniseries has totally changed my view on Giamatti. He is absolutely the BEST actor I have seen in quite a long time. It's like you're not watching Paul Giamatti, you're watching john Adams, he's very convincing, same with Linny but Giamatti's acting is passionate, deep, fiery, compassionate, etc. Love it all.

[olbigdik]

Bravo, Paul. Very well done, Sir. Awesome!!!

[Mortskcab]

John Adams should be put on our quarter....washington already has the dollar!

[boymeetboy]

Paul Giamatti is the greatest actor ever, he is so real in every way, he completely brings John Adams to life. This is a life affecting movie. Paul, thank you!

[countrygirl6089]

Very well done...there are not enough miniseries like this, and its very sad.

[naphere]

the redcoats stood side by side and had to stay in formation they followed the rules of engagement which meant they couldnt fire unless fired upon the colonists well armed cause of paul revere gathered there father and sons maybe even the women and stood tree by tree retreating to the next tree each and volley after volley we were smarter getting off 3 shots for each of theirs

message in a bottle

[Pompy74]

i love this show

[christy340]

I saw the first and second parts of this series last night it was great because of Paul Giamatti he is fantastic.

[monarch243]

cant wait for the pacific next year. thats gonna be sick!!

[shmacka]

what is the "pacific"? another mini series?

[droptopdrew2]

Pual, is a very good actor, what else can i say, love the movies.

[sebring4me]

Anxious to see it. Looks GREAT!

[FantasticSix6]

wow

[aznativethug]

they should do a miniseries on native americans... without a leading white guy!

[blazingarmada]

looks wonderful.