MovieChat Forums > John Adams (2008) Discussion > Phenominal casting, except for...

Phenominal casting, except for...

posted 14 years ago by mrbsays
8 replies | jump to latest

In the beginning, the only casting that made sense to me was Giamatti as Adams. However, Wilkinson was amazing as Franklin, and Morse brought to life Washington in a way I didn't know could be done. Sewell was also awesome as Hamilton. One thing I'd have done differently is Jefferson. I remember reading he was as tall as, if not taller, than Washington, just without the physical presence Washington had. I also have read he was quite the gentleman aristocrat, but they seemed to focus more on his possible Aspergers and related disabilities. Not that I'm complaining that the actor didn't do a great job, he just didn't look the way I always pictured him.

Most interesting though is that most of the Founding Fathers showed in the series were played by Brits. Not that I'm complaining, they did great jobs, I just can't ever see an American playing a king/queen or prime minister. Somehow, it is believable though for Brits to play Americans. Any thoughts on why that is?

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[–] goleafsgo27 14 years ago

Keep in mind that most of the Founders were indeed born British, in America yes, but in British colonies and subjects of the King. Note the standard toasts of the day in the early episodes, "God save the King." Part of the story of that era is the evolution of the people from feeling and identifying as British to feeling American. And nowhere near all made that change. There were many, many Loyalists who did not have a happy time of it during the revolution.

[–] suessis 14 years ago

American accents (because there are multiple ones) evolved over time. For instance,I read somewhere that within 100 years the Boston accent as we now know it had already begun to evolve. It is important to note that the group of people living there were British but some who had been raised in the Netherlands because that's where a number of religious refugees went when they left England looking for religious freedom. I actually think that Wilkinson, Sewell, and Dilane actually caught onto that well. They all had a hint of the British in their voices.

You have to remember that the way the characters are portrayed are based on how they were seen by Adams as much as anything. I think they tried to go by that model in casting

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[–] shammy-4 13 years ago

Utter rubbish. Franklin and Jefferson and even George the third are talking with a strong East Anglian accent.

[–] Hancock_the_Superb 14 years ago

Stephen Dillane more or less matched my idea of Jefferson - he got Jefferson's mercurial nature and passionate idealism right, along with his stubbornness and somewhat awkward public demeanor. I didn't have a problem with his appearance, at least not more than I did with David Morse as Washington or Rufus Sewell's Hamilton.

"I may not punish you for treason, but I could slap you for stupidity."

[–] sekander 12 years ago

I thought everyone handled their roles with enough reverence and depth of character. The only shock to me was Hamilton with a black wig and then with
black hair. I've never seen a picture of Hamilton with black hair or wig.
Every character was painstakingly drawn to resemble their historical likeness.
What happened with Hamilton?

[–] jmaxwell86 12 years ago

You do realize that, until the revolution was won, everyone in the the colonies of Britain (the 13 states that you recognize) were actually British? They were not "American". And even then, the accents would have remained for a long time after.

[–] vegytarian 11 years ago

The lead actor. . .or, if I'm wrong about this, I apologize for not knowing that John Adams was Italian !

[–] doug65oh 11 years ago

If you'll consult any good atlas, you'll notice that New Haven, CT (Paul Giamatti's birthplace) is nowhere near Italy.