Very expensive mini series swept all honours before it and helped revitalise the reputation of America's second president, who is so overshadowed by the first and third. There are surprisingly few dramatic looks at the American Revolution - the Yanks seem too scared to look at it, most of them come from Britain (this had a British director and a heavily British cast). This goes for it: the politicking and backbiting, religious hatred, slavery, xenophobia, genuine patriotism, bloodlust, aggressive foreign policy, Boston Massacres, science, dropkick sons and sex.
I will admit Paul Giamatti did get on my nerves after a while - all that dour grumpiness - and Laura Linney wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs as Abigail. But Stephen Dillane was terrific as Jefferson and there was great work from people like Tom Wilkinson (Franklin), Rufus Sewell (Hamilton), Sarah Polley (daughter) and others. Stunning production value, endlessly interesting, fairly obviously made by Poms (the digs at the French, pausing for moments of sadness when English soldiers die), and really moving in some places (eg death of Linney). If only we could make something like this in Australia!
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