Sons of Liberty (2015)

Sons of Liberty
2015
TV-14
Three-episode Miniseries
History Channel
Directed by Kari Skogland
Starring Ben Barnes, Rafe Spall, Michael Raymond-James, Ryan Eggold, Henry Thomas, Dean Norris, Jason O’Mara

 

The story of a group of very different men fighting in the American Colonies for freedom, and how they will shape the future for the United States of America. Based on true stories. [IMDb]

I’m not normally one for wartime epics or tales from the battlefield, but I do enjoy certain aspects of Revolutionary War history. So, naturally, when “Sons of Liberty”, a mini-series about the events that sparked the American Revolution began streaming again on Tubi, I had to give it a rewatch. While this History Channel production is light in the “history” department, it’s not to say it can’t be enjoyed for many legitimate reasons. 

A note for hardcore purists and history buffs: In the DVD extras, director Kari Skogland stated that “Sons of Liberty” would be told with authenticity, not necessarily with accuracy. I think it’s important to keep that in mind when watching this mini-series which highlights the period of roughly 11 years that led up to the signing of The Declaration of Independence. For the sake of cinematic effect and entertainment value, events have been dramatically accelerated, and while the pacing isn’t based in the actual timeline, it does make for compelling viewing.  

Ben Barnes as Samuel Adams apprehended by the British Army. [History Channel]

Also compelling is the level of attention to detail. Everything about this mini-series’ production value is top-notch. Let’s begin with set design: Everything was made from scratch – and filmed in Romania, no less. How the production team managed to make Romania look like 18th-century Boston and Philadelphia I will never understand, even if the DVD extras do a great job of showing just how they pulled it off. Costuming, hair and makeup – meticulously recreated. Lighting and special effects – brilliant. Cinematography, especially in the battle scenes – artistic and moving. This doesn’t look like basic cable programming; not to mention it’s nearly 10 years since filming and stands the test of time extremely well. 

Henry Thomas as John Adams, Barnes as Sam Adams,
and Michael Raymond-James as Paul Revere [History Channel]

Where I do find fault is in the handling and lack of iconic and dramatic moments such as Paul Revere’s famed ride, which is given very little on-screen focus and falls flat in the retelling. Also missing: the shot heard round the world. And, of course, the Boston Tea Party, while present, lacks drama and could have been given more emphasis. Understandably, there was a lot of ground to cover here, and decisions had to be made for better or worse. 

Ryan Eggold as Joseph Warren, Raymond-James, Barnes, Rafe Spall as John Hancock,
and Thomas: America's Founding Fathers prepare for revolution. [History Channel]

Performances, all around, are praise-worthy. Standouts include the leading actor, Ben Barnes who portrays Samuel Adams, the rabble-rousing upstart who sparked the American Revolution with his bevy of Founding Fathers: John Adams (Henry Thomas), Paul Revere (Michael Raymond-James), Joseph Warren (Ryan Eggold), and John Hancock (Rafe Spall). Of these key characters, the three who shine are Barnes, Raymond-James, and Spall. Each of them carries their scenes with weight and keep you drawn to the plotting, planning, scheming and dangers of igniting independence. Their fine handling of the script made for enjoyable viewing, easily convincing the audience that Adams was a justice-minded, daring and dashing hero; Revere was a no-holds-barred badass on the battlefield, and Hancock was a duplicitous opportunist turned do-gooder. Another stand-out is Dean Norris, who lends just the right amount of bawdy reprobate to his interpretation of Ben Franklin, who was in actuality extremely complicated.

A scene from the signing of the Declaration of Independence. [History Channel]

Mind you, all of these historical characters and the plot in which they find themselves, have been extremely altered from the actual truth. Very little of what’s portrayed on screen happened as you see it. If you would like a breakdown on some of the very notable facts vs. fiction, The Journal of the American Revolution is a good place to start. But, don’t let that dissuade you from giving this series your time. It’s entertaining on many levels–even if it is revisionist history.  

***

And now, for a small dose of humor in meme form inspired by watching Sons of Liberty.