THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 – “Makes a great case for film of the year”

Chicago 7

RATING

DIRECTOR

Aaron Sorkin (Molly’s Game – 2017)

STARRING

  • Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Bobby Seale
  • Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Richard Schultz
  • Michael Keaton as Ramsey Clark
  • Frank Langella as Judge Julius Hoffman
  • John Carroll Lynch as David Dellinger
  • Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden
  • Mark Rylance as William Kunstler
  • Alex Sharp as Rennie Davis
  • Jeremy Strong as Jerry Rubin

SYNOPSIS

Based on the true story of the Chicago Seven, a group of seven defendants charged by the federal government with conspiracy in 1969 and 1970, inciting to riot, and other charges related to anti-Vietnam War and countercultural protests that took place in Chicago, Illinois, on the occasion of the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

REVIEW SUMMARY

There’s no question about it, Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 makes a great case for film of the year. What we get is a highly captivating courtroom drama with skilled performances across the board. Eddie Redmayne and Sacha Baron Cohen are the standouts here, with the latter stealing just about every scene he’s in. As writer/director, Sorkin does a masterful job of clearly setting the stage and giving everyone a distinct voice in the proceedings. Given all the people and moving parts involved, it’s honestly a really impressive feat (in less skilled hands, it could have gotten very messy, very fast). Sorkin’s masterful writing and sharp dialogue is also on full display, with plenty of goose bump inducing monologues to be found. Things can get a little “cheesy” at times however, leading to a couple of out of place contrivances. Luckily, they are few and far between, leaving the rest of the film to stand tall as one of the best legal movies of our time!

BOX OFFICE TOP 5

ThumbIcon_Flame_2

6

Red One
$34.1 million

ThumbIcon_Flame_2

6

Venom: The Last Dance
$7.4 million

ThumbIcon_Flame_2

-

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
$5.4 million

ThumbIcon_Volcano_1

8.5

Heretic
$5.2 million

ThumbIcon_Flame_2

7.5

The Wild Robot
$4.3 million

RECENT FEED