The Trial Of The Chicago 7 (2020)

In 1968, a group of anti-war protestors go to Chicago during the Democratic National Convention to protest the Vietnam war. Five months later, eight of them are arrested and charged with inciting a riot. This is the story of their trial. Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Based on the trial of what has become known as the Chicago 7. Unlike the others, the eighth man Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul Mateen II) was not represented by William Kunstler (Mark Rylance) and his case was eventually declared a mistrial. Cramming a complicated political trial that lasted months into a two hour time slot is a risky thing to do and Sorkin's film often feels rushed. That being said, it's an intense and compelling two hours superbly performed by an impeccable ensemble cast. Sorkin's script doesn't attempt to turn the seven into faultless martyrs but shows them as flawed and often contradictory human beings, warts and all. Granted as with most "historical" films, dramatic license is exercised and fictional characters are inserted into the movie. Sorkin's loaded ending (with Daniel Pemberton's score rising) goes over the top and it's an invention too. It's a powerful film that needs to be seen but don't take it as gospel. The large cast includes Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman, Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden, Jeremy Strong as Jerry Rubin, John Carroll Lynch as David Dellinger, Alex Sharp as Rennie Davis, Michael Keaton as Ramsey Clark, Frank Langella as Julius Hoffman and Joseph Gordon Levitt as Richard Schultz.