"John Adams" Unite or Die (2008)

Director:

Tom Hooper

Writers (WGA):

Kirk Ellis (written by)
David McCullough (book)

TV Series:

"John Adams" (2008)

Original Air Date:

6 April 2008 (Season 1, Episode 5)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Plot:

John Adams chaffs under the mantle of Vice President for its utter lack of authority and responsibility...

Plot Keywords:

President | Political Party | Vice President | Federalist | Number 60

Cast

Paul Giamatti	...	John Adams
Laura Linney	...	Abigail Adams
Stephen Dillane	...	Thomas Jefferson
David Morse	...	George Washington
Rufus Sewell	...	Alexander Hamilton
Sarah Polley	...	Nabby Adams
John Dossett	...	Benjamin Rush
Ebon Moss-Bachrach	...	John Quincy Adams
Samuel Barnett	...	Thomas Adams
Kevin Trainor	...	Charles Adams
Cyril Descours	...	Edmund Charles Genet
Mamie Gummer	...	Sally Smith Adams
Andrew Scott	...	Colonel William Smith
Alan Cox	...	William Maclay
John Keating	...	Timothy Pickering

Jose L. Penaranda	...	Congressman / Sailor / Townsman
Aaron Angus	...	Sailor / British Sailor / Dead Hero / Militia
Josh Archer	...	Sailor / Frenchman in Mob / Senator
Adrian Black	...	Senator (as Brian Ross Huse)
Mitch Bordeaux	...	Juror
Christopher Clawson	...	Senator (uncredited)
Rhett Coates	...	Wharfman (uncredited)
Matt Cockburn	...	Colonial Militia Man
Tim Colmus	...	Senator
Michael L. Colosimo	...	Artillery Soldier (uncredited)
Thomas Joe Craig	...	Redcoat / bostonian
John E. Daniel	...	British Sailor
Daniel Michael DeLuca	...	Boston Citizen / British Sailor
Kurtis Dement	...	Citizen
Sam Edens	...	Sailor
David Foster	...	Boston aristocrat (uncredited)
Bill Gentry	...	Sons of Liberty (uncredited)
Mariano Gowland	...	Mohawk Indian
Matt Gulbranson	...	Militia Leader (uncredited)
Chris Gulluscio	...	Redcoat
Sean Haggerty	...	Congressman
Alec Stephens III	...	House Servant
Lucky Judd	...	Maryland Delegate
Landon Kerric	...	William Stephens
Sean Kraemer	...	Son of Liberty / Boston Citizen
Kirk Lambert	...	Delegate
Todd A. Langenfeld	...	Red Coat Officer Brown, Bostonian Fireman, Ship Helmsman
Kerry Meushaw	...	New Jersey Delegate
Frank Moran	...	New York Delegate
Jared Morrison	...	Sons of Liberty horseman
Austin Murray	...	Continental Artillery NCO
Sandor Istvan Nagy	...	French Guest
Sam Navarro	...	British Soldier
Fred Ortiz	...	Eastern Indian
Tim Paterson	...	Virginia Delegate
Gavin Peretti	...	Redcoat / Bostonian
Chaz Petteway	...	Young french naval officer
Phillip A. Ranallo	...	Redcoat (uncredited)
Jordan Rozum	...	Citizen / Redcoat
Mark Ruggiero	...	Senator
Tom Patrick Stephens	...	New Jersey Senator (as Tom Stephens)
Patrick Michael Strange	...	British Sailor / Boston Townsman / Upperclass Philadelphian (uncredited)
Stephen Szibler	...	British Sailor / Militia with smallpox (uncredited)
Tom Townsend	...	Redcoat (uncredited)
Robert Tucker Jr.	...	Drunk Citizen
Terry Ward	...	Tavernkeeper (uncredited)
Justin Weiss	...	Apprentice, Militia (uncredited)
John D. Wilkinson	...	Goya Man
Bruce Williamson	...	William Billings
Kyle Windley	...	Minute Man
Nora Bauer	...	Bostonian Townsperson (uncredited)
Tarnee Kendell Hudson	...	George Washington Servant (uncredited)
Sara Jerez	...	French Aristocrate
Aisha Renée Moore	...	President's House Slave Worker (uncredited)
Amanda O'Connor	...	Pro-French supporter (uncredited)
H. Lynn Smith	...	Traveller
Zanny Wade	...	Crying Woman

Certification:

Australia:M

The Vice President

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

John Adams finds himself in the position of having the second highest job in the new government, yet, his voice is not heard as it should be. He is ridiculed by what he sees the President's title ought to be, something that meets the disapproval of the higher ups in the senate. What's more, Adams finds himself ignored by Washington, as shown in the dinner where he is politely asked to step out of the room as the General wants to conduct business with the cabinet, including the odious Alexander Hamilton, or his friend, and ally, Thomas Jefferson. It is indeed a defeat.

The war in Europe takes its toll in the new country. Loyalties with France are an issue. The greatest United States ally has its own worries, exacerbated by the French Revolution. At home, the Federalist movement begins to take its toll on John Adams. He watches as people like Jefferson, Madison and Hamilton favor the trend.

In the end, John Adams is vindicated. After eight years serving his country as the Vice President, Adams is elected United States President. Thomas Jefferson was elected to serve as the second in command. The two friends had to endured a difficult time in that period of history.

"Unite, or Die", the fifth chapter in the series, brings about the fragility of the new nation into focus. Tom Hopper directs with sure hand the adaptation of Kirk Ellis of the David McCullough's novel. Tak Fujimoto and Danny Cohen do their magic with their impeccable photography.

All the principals do their best as in the other installment. Rufus Sewell appears as Alexander Hamilton, a man that brought with him a lot of controversy to his position in government. Kevin Trainor plays Charles Adams, the son that turns badly because of the way he conducted his life. He was a thorn in his father's heart.