The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

7/10

Starring

Sacha Baron Cohen

Eddie Redmayne

Daniel Flaherty

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Michael Keaton

Frank Langella

John Carroll Lynch

Mark Rylance

Directed by Aaron Sorkin

The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a movie that goes beyond being just a documentary or a retelling of real-life events. It dares to be more, touching on various aspects of the time. The Chicago 7 trial took place in 1968 when several groups protested against the Vietnam War. The movie resonates on many levels, exploring themes like trial manipulation, a biased system, politics, a crooked judge, and jury tampering—all while staying focused on the chaos at hand. It’s well-written to not only educate but also entertain, showcasing the lengths the government went to in order to indict seven people for allegedly inciting riots.

What I particularly liked is the movie’s flow. Aaron Sorkin, the director and writer, masterfully takes us forward with the trial and back to the events leading up to it. This approach shows how the men’s actions could be deliberately misconstrued by a well-orchestrated team to appear as though they were inciting riots.

The courtroom drama delivers everything you’d expect—shocking revelations and even more shocking behavior from the trial judge.

The plot revolves around eight people arrested and tried by the government for inciting riots. The eighth defendant, Bobby Seale, was ultimately removed from the case, with his trial declared a mistrial. This decision was largely due to his lack of legal representation and the judge’s openly hostile behavior toward him. The remaining seven defendants continued with the trial, leading to a standout performance by Mark Rylance as their lead lawyer, William Kunstler.

The trial is packed with twists and turns, unruly behavior, and the unmistakable bias of the judge. Frank Langella delivers a brilliant performance as the judge, who is determined to see the defendants—and even their lawyers—sent to prison.

For the prosecution, the case seemed like an easy win. With the judge clearly in their corner, it appeared almost impossible for the defense to get a fair shot.

Among the standout performances are those of Eddie Redmayne and Sacha Baron Cohen, both of whom bring their characters to life with depth and charisma.

Originally intended for a theatrical release, the film’s distribution rights were sold to Netflix due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This film also has an interesting production history. It was written in 2007, but the Writers Guild of America strike put production on hold. The project remained in limbo for over a decade before finally coming to fruition.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a must-watch—a compelling film that brilliantly balances drama, history, and stellar performances.