by Ben Davis
I love America. One of the reasons I love America is the freedom I have as an American to exercise my right to free speech. This is a right that belongs to all Americans: to peacefully protest any injustice. The Trial of the Chicago 7 perfectly illustrates our obligation as Americans to uphold this right, whether we agree or disagree with the viewpoints being expressed. This film is also a timely warning about the consequences of disregarding the right to protest, and of a powerful justice system neglecting their duty to truth and justice in favor of personal prejudice and political gain.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is written and directed by Oscar-winner Aaron Sorkin, stars an all-star cast of Eddie Redmayne, Alex Sharp, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Frank Langella, and Michael Keaton, and is about the story of the 7 people on trial for various charges surrounding the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a powerful, timely, expertly crafted, exceptionally written, courtroom drama that left me feeling angry, appalled, deeply moved, and shaken. 2020 has been pretty quiet when it comes to films that have left me feeling this way (Onward and The Way Back withstanding), but this movie just shot up to be my favorite to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards this year.
Aaron Sorkin has given to us what I think is a modern-day masterpiece. Sorkin has written many great films over the years. Films like A Few Good Men, The Social Network (which he won the Oscar for), Moneyball, and Steve Jobs. His first directing effort was 2017’s Molly’s Game: a criminally underrated film that still earned Aaron Sorkin an Oscar nomination for his writing effort. In The Trial of the Chicago 7, Sorkin brings his signature quick-witted writing while also proving once again that he’s not just a master when it comes to writing dialogue and characters, but also when it comes to directing a master-class film by bringing out the best performances from his cast that if any other person were to direct, wouldn’t feel as lively or entertaining. Sorkin brilliantly blends the politics of yesterday with today’s current political climate and lets us know that the problems of the past remain the problems of the present. Aaron Sorkin is a shoo-in to be nominated for Best Director and, so far, is my favorite to win the award.
The acting performances across the board in The Trial of the Chicago 7 are absolutely astounding in every sense of the word. In particular, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne, Oscar-winner Mark Rylance, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Frank Langella. Frankly, I could go on about why exactly these performances are so strong, but my words wouldn’t do justice to just how well-rounded everyone one is in this ensemble cast. Every character feels real and lived-in with very unique perspectives on what is right and how to go about it. Hats off to this absolutely amazing cast.
The editing is also something that I think should be praised. Courtroom dramas can often feel a bit stale, but the way this film is edited gives the movie a brisk pace that keeps you engaged with the story while also giving you a look at all the individual characters and fleshing them out, and it manages all of this while keeping its eye on the big picture message of the movie. The Trail of the Chicago 7 never loses focus, and I think that’s due to the wonderful editing job of Alan Baumgarten.
This is usually the part of the review where I would go onto point out things I believe to be negatives about this film, but quite frankly this movie is about as flawless as a movie can get.
All in all, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a very important story for today. Its message of standing up for what you believe in and defending your rights and the rights of others is something that rings as true in 1968 as it does today in 2020. This film reminded me of the power of cinema and left me feeling angry, yet hopeful for a better tomorrow. As for how much this movie means to me? “Give me moment, would you friend? I’ve never been on trial for my thoughts before.”
Grade: A+