John Adams

• Based heavily on the biography written by David McCullough, this mini-series stars Paul Giamatti as President Adams and Laura Linney as his wife, Abigail. Before becoming President, Adams is best known as the lawyer who defended the British soldiers accused of murdering civilians at what we call the Boston Massacre. He won exoneration for his clients, but then had to deal with the fallout from some of his fellow Americans for the rest of his life. 
• One last reason to watch is the casting of Tom Wilkinson as Ben Franklin. The actor really brings Franklin to life as much as Giamatti and Linney give breath to the Adams. He is the eccentric we have all read about. However, his skills as our fledgling nation’s first ambassador are still studied today by everyone from businesspeople learning to make deals to State Department employees looking to shape foreign relationships. 

The Patriot

• Mel Gibson. In a work of fiction, Mel Gibson’s character (Benjamin Martin) is based on members of the Continental Army, including Thomas Sumter and Francis Marion, aka The Swamp Fox, among others. It is Marion’s exceptional ambush and hit-and-run tactics that bring the combat scenes to life. 
• The movie’s runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes feels like a marathon run at a sprinter’s pace. Even a comedic scene in which Martin tries to figure out how to build a rocking chair like that of a British general is quick and perhaps the funniest moment of the film. It also stirs your heart, so if you aren’t punching the air as Benjamin Martin finishes off William Tavington (Jason Isaacs in his best villainous role before Harry Potter), then you need to consider moving to Canada. 

A Wee Bit O’ Revolution

• This is a stand-up comedy performance from Craig Ferguson, the former Late Late Show host. He did this shortly after gaining his U.S. citizenship, and it’s nearly two hours of his love for this country and the things that still confuse him after living here for over a decade. It is a fun watch, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself out of breath from laughing. 

We hope you enjoy some of my favorite movies as we continue to celebrate our nation!

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