It’s never too early to get a jump on the potential Oscar nominees: guest writer Roschelle Charters has a look at Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
Director: Aaron Sorkin
Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Daniel Flaherty, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Noah Robbins, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong.
9/10 – Top of your watch list.
That’s right, we’re not goin’ to jail because of what we did, we’re goin’ to jail because of who we are! – Abbie Hoffman.
The best movie I’ve seen in 2020 and likely will see. Netflix pushed this one out over the weekend and to be honest I had no idea of its existence. How did I miss the news of this, with such an epic cast lined up?
Now streaming on Netflix, the film tells the story of what were intended to be peaceful protests, turned into a violent clash with police in Chicago in 1968. The organisers of the protests, known as The Chicago 7, were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot, and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history.
The acting was phenomenal, particularly from Eddie and Sacha. The defense lawyer, played by Mark Rylance, was also a standout.
The editing was one of the first things that stood out to me in the film, there were many amazing sequences throughout. It was one of those films where every emotion is felt! I was clenching my fist, shaking my head, laughing, clapping, cursing, making audible gasps or cries of outrage…and yes, crying.
The outrageous things to take place over the course of this trial were played out beautifully by the cast, and as far as fact v fiction, an article I read stated that shocking moments in the trial were in fact present and even more exaggerated in real life.
I love the immersive setting of the court room for most of the film’s duration. The relationship between the Chicago 7 was a great dynamic. The pacing of the film was perfect, not a minute of wasted time. I was captivated for every second of the 2h 10m duration.
I don’t have a lot to say other than please go and check this one out on Netflix, you will not regret it! Easily made its way to the top of my 2020 list.
Have you seen this one yet? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
Roschelle Charters just wants to talk about movies all day. Find more of her reviews on instagram and letterboxd.com