TV and John Adams

I'm beginning to realize that television is in many ways a better medium than film.  It allows for longer stories, more detailed portraits of characters, and a more intimate and relaxed setting for viewing (how often have you attended a movie only to realize the entire world decided to attend with you... along with their crying children!)

Now, I still love film, and enjoy the movies, and always will, but I have been learning to enjoy TV more and more.

Part of the reason, I expect, is a couple of series we have been watching.

The first is Eli Stone, an ABC drama dealing with faith, prophets and lawyers.  I do recommend it.  It deals with issues in a fun way, slightly off beat.

The second is John Adams, and HBO miniseries based on David McCullough's book (which I have yet to read, but understand is excellent).

The series is quite good, with Paul Giamatti getting at the essence of Adams... and the rest of the actors don't disappoint either!

I found these articles to be a great way to round out the series.  They are from The New Republic magazine.  A historian and author write critiques of the series after each airing, and they are quite good in their own right.  Adams was an amazing man, one of the founders who truly did influence the course of history, but was lost in the mists of time until McCullough's book.