Sons of Liberty

Made for the History cable network, this six-hour miniseries centering on the Boston-based group that helped instigate the American Revolution is replete with factual errors and pure speculation. But as an action-adventure series, Sons of Liberty offers a reasonably exciting ride. The story focuses on Sam Adams (Ben Barnes), who becomes enraged over British oppression of the colonists and steps into the role of rebel leader against British General Thomas Gage, who is played by Marton Csokas as a cruel and pitiless villain (Gage is also depicted as a cuckold: his wife passes military secrets to her lover, an American doctor). It's amusing to see some of the founding fathers portrayed in less than reverential light: Ben Franklin (Dean Norris) is a womanizing hedonist, John Adams (Henry Thomas) a straitlaced temporizer, and John Hancock (Rafe Spall) a profit-oriented fop who tries to placate Gage until his business interests are threatened. Only George Washington is apparently untouchable: as played by Jason O'Mara, he's so stiffly righteous that he might as well already be on Mount Rushmore. Although fairly small-scaled, Sons of Liberty does feature some impressive recreations of bigger events such as the Boston Tea Party and the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. For viewers who don't mind clichés that fly faster than the bullets, this is reasonably entertaining fare. Extras include bonus featurettes. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)