By Rob Lowman, Entertainment Editor

 

 

 

 

John Adams>

There was backstabbing, jealousy, pettiness. That's politics.

Based on David McCullough's biography of the second president, HBO's "John Adams" has all those things, but it also shows the thought and courage that went into the founding of our country. And through the story of Adams' family, this beautifully made miniseries offers some interesting glimpses into the times.

Paul Giamatti - an actor better-known as a supporting figure - plays Adams with a stiff Yankee demeanor, made more so by the wigs and clothing of the period. "Cranky, impetuous, self-absorbed," as McCullough wrote, Adams was an odd duck for a Founding Father and is a hard man to warm up to in the series.

He had neither the fire of his cousin Samuel (Danny Huston) nor the erudition of his great rival Thomas Jefferson (Stephen Dillane). But Adams was respected, and politically savvy - enough so that he was behind naming George Washington as general of the Continental Army and Jefferson as primary writer of the Declaration of Independence. Both would eclipse him in love from their countrymen.

Being second is not easy; doing a miniseries about being No. 2 isn't either. Adams' life was not the typical hero's journey. Often he was on the periphery of the action. He spent much of the Revolutionary War in Europe negotiating treaties, seeking funds and watching Ben Franklin (played with an impish glee by Tom Wilkerson) get much of the credit. He served two rather unremarkable terms as Washington's vice president (often ignored). He then squeaked into the presidency (being the first to briefly inhabit the White House) before becoming our first one-term chief executive. His remaining years were lived in relative obscurity.

Adams died at 90 on July 4, 1826, the same day as Jefferson and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But the shrewdest move in his long life was marrying Abigail (a marvelously cast Laura Linney), whose intellect matched Adams' own and whose level-headedness often kept his worst qualities (vanity, stubbornness) in check.

Watching them raise a family through the turbulent times (the scene of a man being tarred and feathered is horrifying) proves to be more than a secondary story to the one about politics in the series. There were diseases like smallpox to deal with, food worries, children dying young, separation.

"John Adams" takes pains to remind us that life then was difficult, even for those better off. We watch the couple, and not prettily. The scene of their adult daughter Nabby (Sarah Polley) getting a mastectomy (without antiseptic or anesthesia) is not only heartbreaking but shocking.

Extras include a conversation with author McCullough and the making of the miniseries.

Our second president may not have been the most scintillating of subjects for a miniseries, but "John Adams" is a winner.

 

 

keep in mind>

Despite its attractive cast, "The Other Boleyn Girl" isn't as much of a bodice-ripping pleasure as "The Tudors." The second season of the Showtime series, which just wrapped last week, also tells the story of Anne Boleyn's rise and fall. It's juicier and probably more historically accurate.

Based on British author Philippa Gregory's novel, "The Other Boleyn Girl" - with Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn, Scarlett Johansson as her sister Mary and Eric Bana as Henry VIII - turns the sisters into battling tarts. The reality is closer to Mary being out of the picture fairly early on, but the film turns the affairs into a pretty soapy mess.

By the way, the second-season finale of "The Tudors" was up 83 percent from the first-season finale. I guess Anne getting her head chopped off is still a draw.

Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson seem to be enjoying their screen time together in "The Bucket List," Rob Reiner's film about two terminally ill geezers maxing out on life during their last days.

Maybe if the film didn't stretch credibility, we would have had more fun watching it. Nicholson plays Edward, a billionaire who has made his money from health care. When taken ill, his own cost-cutting program puts him in a room with another dying patient (Freeman). Now what billionaire - especially one with a penchant for greed - is going to share?

An unlikely friendship ensues (surprise), and the two take off for adventures like a couple of college buddies on spring break. They seem pretty robust, however, for a couple of older guys on death's doorstep. Had the filmmakers dug into the characters more - gave us something a bit real - "The Bucket List" may have worked. As it is, all you have is Jack and Morgan doing Jack and Morgan.

Doug Liman has some pretty good films on his resume - "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity" and "Swingers." His "Jumpers" - with Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson - about a guy who can teleport himself from place to place while being pursued by a secret society is basically just goofy - but Hollywood would never come up with a title that honest. Only Sci-Fi channel fans might enjoy it.

"The Grand" is a fake documentary-style comedy about a Vegas poker tournament. Directed by Zak Penn, "The Grand's" improvisational style yields some laughs. By the way, the filmmakers let the cast - which includes Cheryl Hines, Woody Harrelson and David Cross - play the final hand for real and rewrote the ending around it.

Rob Lowman (818) 713-3687 robert.lowman@dailynews.com

 

 

out tuesday>

 

NEW FILMS

"Control" $28.95

"Semi-Pro" $28.98 and $34.98 for two-disc unrated edition and $39.99 for Blu-ray

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"The Eye" $29.95 and $34.98 for two-disc unrated edition and $39.99 for Blu-ray

"The Onion Movie" $26.98

"Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland" $28.98

 

TELEVISION

"Weeds - Season Three" $39.98

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"The Andromeda Strain Miniseries" $26.98

"CHiPs - The Complete Second Season" $39.98

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"The Incredible Hulk - The Complete Third Season" $39.98

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"Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins" $19.98

"The Beast" $14.98

 

NEW TO BLU-RAY

"Cloverfield" $39.99

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OLDER FILMS/COLLECTIONS

"Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector's Edition" $74.98 and $129.95 for Blu-Ray

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