HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY
GREEN FOR DANGER
Though I've never seen it, I enjoy the music to GREENWILLOW.
I must disagree with my friend Elmore. I was bored and disappointed by the JOHN ADAMS mini on HBO. A lot of good actors and interesting history, but the whole thing is rather portentously, lethargically told.
I put it down to a bad script and poor direction. It's like every word that's uttered is "we are saying weighty, important things." They're playing it like history; rather than like people. Every scene with Giametti and Linney is done in claustrophic two-shots and everything that is said is so ponderous and measured and serious. Though, yes, Abigail was a significant part of John's life, it feels like just because they have Laura Linney that have to give her character absolutely equal time scene for scene with Giamatti and some of those scenes and moments just aren't worth it, then you see her not only giving her wise advice and influence to John Adams, but George Washington as well. We're getting historical figures, not living, breathing people. I felt I got to know all these characters better in 1776, and they were alive and more multi-faceted and interesting than they are here. It would probably be a more fulfilling exercise to read the book; but I'll probably tune in next week to see if gets better. And where was Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, The Boston Tea Party? We might have seen some of histroy being played out instead of talked about, seen people doing things instead of saying things like, "I must do..."...if they'd picked up pace and cut some of Abigail Adams looking wise and solemn at her husband.
I can recommend THE SEAFARER, however.
