Just finished watching The Trial of the Chicago 7 on Netflix. Masterfully written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, the film tells the true story of seven individuals on trial for the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The film features an excellent cast giving strong performances, several of which would be worthy of an Oscar nomination. The screenplay is sharp, smart, moving, and at times, surprisingly funny. The Trial of the Chicago 7 is my current pick for best film of the year. My rating is a 10/10.
Not that that's a high bar. Anyway it was well done; I'm more familiar with the whole thing than most and know the whole history. Also I've seen the real ones. I got a quick glimpse of Abby in person in NYC when he led a demonstration in support of Salmon Rushdie and I remember when WBAI announced the news of his suicide.
Sacha fans are really waiting for next week though: Borat 2!
Funny, I just finished watching it, went to IMDB and hesitated before rating it a ten...there's very few movies I'd think are worth that, but couldn't for the life of me figure why this one wouldn't be. Way compelling narrative, very well defined characters, amazing writing, absorbing dramatic sequences and set against the social revolution of the sixties...you really can't ask for a better movie IMO.
Eddie Redmayne (sp) was amazing as Hayden, who knew Sacha Baren Cohen was such a great actor, the judge...just had to look him up, Frank Langella, everything about this movie was top notch.
And it was just a good movie to have made...a part of history that needs remembering considering the corrupt nature of the trial to begin with, and the dirty political maneuvering required to manifest the charges against these guys.
Its Sorkin, so you know there's plenty of dramatic flair, but it was well done and made for a movie I was surprised to have enjoyed so much. I could have done with another hour or two of it, really =]
I'm a big fan of Sacha Baren Cohen, but didn't even recognize him at first. Had to look up the cast during the movie. he's done some amazing work, outside of his comedic roles. Was pretty blown away.
As a whole, a great film. My only negative is it feels like it's made for our times, to show the division between liberal and conservative, and to point fingers. In this historic case, fingers were well pointed, and guilt was clear.
I found it watchable throughout but it suffered from poor pacing and Sorkin’s tendency to overwrite - there was some pretty hoary dialogue. The final scene made me roll my eyes. Some very good performances he.d my attention - Abdul-Mahteen and Rylance being the standouts. I found Cohen’s clowning rather tedious, though. 5/10.