THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Aaron Sorkin is best known for writing memorable scripts for films such as A Few Good Men, The Social Network and Steve Jobs. In 2017, he made his directorial debut with Molly’s Game, a compelling drama based on the life story of Molly Bloom. Because I enjoyed Molly’s Game, Sorkin’s next feature, The Trial of the Chicago 7, quickly became one of my most anticipated films of this year. Following its release, The Trial of the Chicago 7 has received positive reviews from critics, who praised the ensemble cast, Sorkin’s screenplay, and the modern parallels to the 1960s. Because of this, my excitement for the film grew.

The film follows the Chicago Seven, a group of anti-Vietnam War protesters charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intention of inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago.

Prior to watching The Trial of the Chicago 7, my expectations were high because of the positive critical reception and, fortunately, it didn’t disappoint. It’s a powerful courtroom drama that, despite being set over 50 years ago couldn’t be more timely because of the recent protests in the United States. Whether you watch it at the cinema or on Netflix, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a must see.

With The Trial of the Chicago 7, Sorkin further establishes himself as one of the best filmmakers at creating an engaging drama filled with interesting characters who deliver fierce and memorable lines of dialogue. Those who enjoyed Sorkin’s previous works, especially A Few Good Men, will, most likely, enjoy The Trial of the Chicago 7. Sorkin knows how to grab a viewer’s attention and keep it until the end credits. I’ve never really enjoyed courtroom dramas as they’re boring, predictable and lacking in interesting characters, however, that wasn’t the case with The Trial of the Chicago 7. The events that take place within the film are very similar to present day. Although it’s been over five decades since the events of The Trial of the Chicago 7, protests in the United States are still occurring regularly. I think that’s why The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a must see as the timing of its release couldn’t be more relevant.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 stars an impressive ensemble cast of some of the most talented actors with many of them delivering their best dramatic performance yet. Sacha Baron Cohen is best known for his eccentric characters including Ali G, Borat and Bruno, however, as Abbie Hoffman, who is the leader of the Youth International Party (also known as the “Yippies”), he is a scene stealer and, unsurprisingly, provides comic relief. Since winning his first Oscar for his incredible portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything in 2014, Eddie Redmayne has made memorable appearances in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them and last year in The Aeronauts, however, as Tom Hayden, he delivers one of his best serious performances. Equally as impressive is Mark Rylance who portrays lawyer William Kunstler, it’s undoubtedly his best performance since he won his first Oscar for his supporting role in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies. Yahya Abdul-Maureen II recently won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his appearance in Watchmen. As Bobby Seale, the leader of the Black Panther Party, Bobby Seale, he continues to impress with his talents as an actor. Solid supporting roles are given by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Richard Schultz, Frank Langella as Judge Julius Hoffman, John Carroll Lynch as David Dellinger and Jeremy Strong as Jerry Rubin. Overall, there isn’t a weak performance to be found. My only complaint would be that The Trial of Chicago 7 is lacking in female characters, however, that didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the film.

As we get closer to the end of the year, many films, that have Oscar potential, are being released. I can’t imagine The Trial of the Chicago 7 walking away with zero nominations when they’re announced next year as it’s the type of film that gets recognised by the Academy. While it’s hard trying to single out actors who I think will be nominated as there are too many great performances, I can imagine Sorkin being nominated for his original screenplay. While it is too early to say, I would like to see The Trial of the Chicago 7 be nominated for Best Picture as, while there hasn’t been much competition due to the vast majority of them being delayed, it’s definitely one of my favourite films from this year. 

Many films, that were meant to be released this year, have been postponed to 2021 because of the current COVID-19 pandemic which led to the closing of cinemas earlier this year. Fortunately, in July, cinemas were able to reopen again. Unsurprisingly, a lot of people are still anxious about returning to the cinema. Those who who want to see The Trial of the Chicago 7 but don’t want to return to the cinema needn’t worry as it will be available to watch on the streaming site, Netflix, from the 16th October. However, it is currently being shown in selected cinemas in the US and UK. Because I prefer watching films at the cinema rather than at home where I’m easily distracted, I enjoyed 

watching The Trial of the Chicago 7 at my local  cinema. 

While The Trial of the Chicago 7 is based on the events in 1968 following the protests in Chicago, those expecting a film that is 100% accurate will be disappointed as Sorkin has made several changes in order to make a compelling drama. However, that’s not a criticism as many films based on real events aren’t accurate.The story is also told through in a non linear style, with the film frequently cutting back to the protests and the courtroom drama. Usually, I would find this confusing and distracting, however, that wasn’t the case with The Trial of the Chicago 7. I think that if the story was straightforward, it wouldn’t have left much of a lasting impression. While the film is at its best during the courtroom scenes, the protest sequence is the most intense. Sorkin doesn’t shy away from showing the bloody results of the fight that occurred between the police and the protestors. 

With strong dramatic performances delivered by the impressive ensemble cast, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a powerful drama that further establishes Aaron Sorkin as one of the best writers/directors working today.

8/10