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This year has definitely been a turbulent one. People have suffered physically and financially while facing growing divisions and unrest. And it seems like now is the perfect time to look back on another turbulent time in Aaron Sorkin’s Netflix release, The Trial of the Chicago 7.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 follows the wild and crazy court case of eight men who were charged with crossing state lines with the intent to incite violence at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. These men represent different activism groups, all of whom were in Chicago to protest the Vietnam War and the impending nomination of Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey. And as the trial begins, it soon becomes clear to the defendants and their attorneys that it will be a long and difficult process.
Though the film spends most of its time in court, though, this isn’t just another dry court drama. From the opening arguments, this trial feels more like a circus than a legitimate court case. Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen) seems to be using the court to try out new material for his next stand-up act. The judge (Frank Langella) seems more interested than blocking justice than remaining impartial. And defense attorney William Kunstler (Mark Rylance) is increasingly outraged by the whole unruly mess.
Really, it’s hard not to get caught up in the spectacle of it all. Aaron Sorkin is known for his sparkling scripts—and this one is no different. These defendants may be on the same side of the courtroom, but they have differing viewpoints, differing personalities, and differing goals, and they often clash with each other just as much as they clash with the prosecutor. They all have their challenges and their flaws. And that makes for a pretty wild ride.
In fact, the story is so dynamic, the ensemble cast is so captivating, that you might find yourself caught off-guard by the moments that ring just as true now as they did then. But when they hit, they definitely hit hard—and you’ll be struck by the similarities and even some differences between today’s story and the story from the ‘60s.
In this crazy year—without the usual calendar of theatrical releases—The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a movie that makes things feel normal again. This is the kind of movie that we’re supposed to be seeing this time of year—the smart, thoughtful kind of films that award seasons are made of.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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