Whereas all historical dramas are made with the sole purpose of transporting audiences back to the time period in which their stories take place, some carry themes that not only pertain to the past era their stories cover, but also speak to the present one with societal issues being covered that are nearly identical to the ones plaguing today's society. With Netflix's The Trial Of The Chicago 7, the highly acclaimed historical courtroom drama serves as a reflection of the late 1960's movement regarding the protesting of the Vietnam War along with the rise of both the progressive and Black Panther parties while mirroring today's issues regarding police brutality, the push for more social reform, standing up to the establishment, and the question of whose truly responsible for mass peaceful protests turned violent. With Netflix's newest historical drama, writer and director Aaron Sorkin explores these issues and presents them in a style that's engaging, informative, and feels timely given that many of the same issues presented in the story have carried on to today's generation. The Trial Of The Chicago 7 is not just a well-acted and put together courtroom drama, it serves as being the film that properly and rightfully defines 2020 minus Covid-19. It's not a film that audiences particularly were craving for, but its one that's needed with its thought-provoking and timely messages.
Based on true events, The plot for The Trial Of The Chicago 7 takes place in 1969 with the plot revolving around a notorious trial involving seven progressive activists for charges regarding conspiracy as well as inciting riots after a series of violent confrontations between armed Chicago police officers and anti-Vietnam protestors during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. One of the key aspects of the film that stands out is how well structured its story is with Sorkin giving the film the appropriate flashbacks of the events in question to give audiences more background information regarding both the case as well as the main characters being put on trial. The story is extremely well told with top notch performances from its main cast adding to the realism of the story. Sorkin manages to fairly stick to the facts surrounding the case while working off his strengths as both a storyteller and filmmaker. The film plays out like a typical courtroom drama, but is elevated through its all star cast as well as the sense of urgency that its story themes bring. In a time where the country is enduring unrest with rightful protests being spawned across the nation regarding important issues that can be considered progressive, The Trial Of The Chicago 7 feels like the necessary film to come out at the perfect time as the story shows its main characters struggle regarding fairness, equality, justice, and ending corruption all feel powerfully relevant to today's struggles.
As well as Aaron Sorkin performs as the films director and writer, it's the performances from the films talented and star-studded cast that make the story work as effectively as it ultimately does. The ensemble cast all deliver performances that range from being highly impressive to fantastic work here with some actors managing to genuinely impress with their ability to demonstrate solid range as dramatic performers (Sasha Baron Cohen anyone). The films strongest acting work comes from Eddie Redmayne and Sasha Baron Cohen in the main roles of Tom Hayden, leader and one time President of the Students for a Democratic Society, with Cohen playing Abbie Hoffman, founding member of the Youth International Party. Redmayne continues to demonstrate solid dramatic acting chops with Cohen delivering the more impressive work of the two performance wise. Both actors demonstrate strong chemistry on screen along with allowing the audience to decide which of the two characters they side with in regards to their different approaches on how to handle the protests regarding the ending of the Vietnam War as Redmayne's character is portrayed as being more peaceful and less radical in pushing for progressive policies in comparison to Cohen's character. The latter surprises with his strong presence on screen, as well as his ability to expand on his range as a serious actor. It wouldn't be surprising if he received his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his work on the film. Joseph Gordon Levitt and Frank Langella also impresses in their roles as Federal Prosecutor Richard Schultz, who personally doesn't believe the seven men to be guilty of initiating the Chicago riots, with Frank Langella as the unreasonable and biased Judge Julius Hoffman. The rest of the cast deliver effective to extremely noteworthy performances with Alex Sharp as national organizer Rennie Davis, Jeremy Strong as founding member of the Yippies (The Youth International Party) Jerry Rubin, John Carroll Lynch as David Dellinger, leader of the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam, Noah Robbins as Lee Weiner, Daniel Flaherty as John Froines, Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll as Bobby Seale, National Chairman of the Black Panther Party as well as serving as being the 8th defendant. Other supporting roles include Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Illinois Chapter Black Panther Party, Mark Rylance as Defense Counsel William Kunstler, and Michael Keaton as former United States Attorney General Ramsey Clark during the riots who testifies that the riots were started by the Chicago Police Department rather than by the accused seven. The ensemble cast for The Trial Of The Chicago 7 as a whole is fantastic with everyone adding something genuine to their roles, as well as the story. Much like strong ensemble dramas such as Steven Soderbergh's Traffic Paul Haggis Crash, or David Fincher's The Social Network, the cast for Chicago 7 works so brilliantly as a group that one can't pick out a single performance that ranges as being poor or lacking in comparison to the others. Every performance feels natural and important to the story with voters being hard-pressed to select a single actor or supporting actor for award season recognition. Whereas everyone gets their key moments to shine throughout the film, the best and strongest work comes from Redmayne and Cohen with Levitt, Langella, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll occasionally stealing the show with his powerful performance as wrongfully accused Bobby Seale. The acting ultimately plays a big part of why The Trial Of The Chicago 7 works as well as it does along with resonating with audiences.
The films directing by Aaron Sorkin proves to be well-crafted as he's able to take a basic courtroom drama and make it engaging for the audience. Although Sorkin takes liberties with the story, he sticks to the general outline while providing the audience with flashbacks that show the events in question. He proves to be extremely skillful in balancing the films timeline in regards to giving audiences glimpses of the past when the characters deliver their testimonies on the stand. The film is well-shot with stellar cinematography, that helps place the audience in 1960's Chicago along with impressive set and costume design. The editing allows the film to have a slow building pace, that allows the audience to become invested in both the story and characters. The score by Daniel Pemberton is powerful and effectively used in enhancing the realism of the era the story takes place in along with the built up drama that unfolds during the courtroom scenes. Although known more for his abilities as a writer moreso than a director, Sorkin shows exceptional skill in crafting a highly effective emotional drama that looks authentic in terms of generating the right atmosphere for the films late 1960's time period with the actors all appearing to fit their roles. Some of the films key sequences are masterfully handled by Sorkin such as the scene in which Bobby Seale's character is disciplined for speaking out in the courtroom regarding his innocence. Other scenes that are effectively done are the flashbacks showing the initiation of the riots with the standoff on the hill between the protesters and the police, as well as the moment in which one of the main characters on trial ends up getting their head cracked open by Police for no other reason than trying to prevent them from being aggressive in handling a protester trying to remove the American flag from a pole. These key scenes are well-handled and directed not only in terms of being shocking, but driving home the brutal reality of the situation to the audience. The directing by Aaron Sorkin is steady-handed with the filmmaker carrying a firm grip on directing the story. If one thought of Sorkin to be talented at only being a writer of hits such as A Few Good Men, The West Wing, and The Social Network, they'll be impressed to see his abilities as a director with The Trial Of The Chicago 7 being his second directorial work after making his filmmaking debut with 2017 Molly's Game.
In addition to Sorkin's surprising directing efforts, he also performs his traditional task of penning the films script with the end result being a hugely satisfying and strong effort. The script for The Trial Of The Chicago 7 includes themes incorporated into the story regarding anti-war protesting against the Vietman War, racism, the use of racial stereotypes, the battle over civil rights, the black Panthers, conspiracy, revolution, and civil disobedience. Sorkin makes it a point to show that the type of trial that's depicted in the film is not a typical one, but politicized to falsely hold those leading the revolution against a corrupt establishment accountable for actions they didn't initiate. Sorkin's script presents both sides of the case with the audience getting pieces of the truth behind the initiating of the riots as the story progresses. The main characters are well-established and developed enough for the audience to become connected with the seven men put on trial for leading a revolution with Eddie Redmayne and Sasha Baron Cohen's character's presenting two different approaches to the progressive movement. Redmayne's character is shown to desire doing things the less extreme and peaceful way with him citing that violent extremism won't lead to election victories across the country for progressives, while Baron's character is less concerned about the protests turning ugly and see's their situation as sending a greater message to people than being concerned about their verdict which Redmayne's character is shown to be the opposite of until the verdict scene. Out of the two main characters, it's Redmayne's that experiences a transformation throughout the course of the film as he goes from being less concerned about what happens to the group in the end and chooses to put the movement first in an ultimate act of defiance in the films closing scene, where he lists off all the soldiers killed in Vietnam in a moving sequence. The subplot involving Bobby Seale is effective in showing his character becoming more increasingly frustrated and desperate as he's being unfairly linked with the other seven defendants for a murder he didn't commit. His character serves to further show the injustice and systemic racism, that African-Americans experience with the justice system. The audience also understands Joseph Gordon Levitt's character as he's shown to not be a villain as the prosecutor because of his understanding of what the Chicago 7 are trying to say with their movement, but is forced to paint them as being the ones responsible for the initiating of the riots. The side characters are well-established with Sorkin treating them like chest pieces in the story with the tension building both inside as well as outside of the courtroom. Sorkin does a solid job of balancing out the two sides of the case with him portraying the Chicago 7 as being flawed in their approach to demanding the end of a corrupt war, while also making their arguments understandable to the audience with the viewer being left to decide whether they agree with their methods of protesting or not. Sorkin also reveals how the mismanagement of protests with the Chicago City Police ended up being the main contributor of the riots, with him also making a point in showing how clear government interference in charging the 7 for the riots, was a way of halting the movement they're building, which often overshadowed the facts surrounding the case as it became less about accountability and more about the fight between the establishment and those willing to stand up against a corrupt and rigged system. The film shows how free speech can be a powerful tool in bringing about societal change, but also reveals how it can be forcibly silenced when speaking out against an obvious wrongdoing or injustice.
Having seen the film, it becomes obvious as to why Aaron Sorkin chose to specifically bring this story to the big screen as it contains layers and themes that speak to now with the main characters struggles in fighting for equality, fairness, justice, and an end to government corruption not appearing to be much different than the many protests, that have taken place this year along with the last several. The story for The Trial Of The Chicago 7 is one that not only works effectively well, but also feels timely. There isn't a better moment for audiences to experience this story than right now with the film boasting stellar acting performances from its fantastic ensemble cast along with brilliant directing and writing to make the story something more than being just a bland historical courtroom drama. Sorkin is a filmmaker who knows what he wants to show, as well as what he wants to say with the films ultimate message regarding an impartial trial and doing what's right for others when the odds are stacked up against oneself. Here he assembles all of the key ingredients that made his past films work with an appealing cast, top notch writing, and a true story that he can transform into something that's engaging and eye-opening rather than being a boring lifetime court drama under an average filmmaker. The Trial Of The Chicago 7 is a historical drama that demands to be seen, and will not let those who do so off the hook easily after watching it. The story serves as being self-reflective of the time period it covers along with mirroring the current political climate. As far as Netflix originals go, it proudly stands as being one of its more impressive efforts with the film being destined to generate some serious award season buzzed with it being well-earned. As evidenced by the films final closing scene which serves as being both inspiring and powerful, the film serves as a great metaphor on how some issues are worth fighting over for better results, and that the needs of others ultimately outweigh the needs of one's own. Sorkin eloquently shows that through the fight that the Chicago 7 endure in the courtroom with their stance being one that's admirable, as well as unquestionably courageous given the era and how stacked the system is against them. Aaron Sorkin's The Trial Of Chicago 7 is a film that's not to be missed, and appropriately stands as being one of 2020's best films released thus far with it being perhaps the most important with its timely narrative.
Final Verdict: For movie lovers and those who appreciate well-told historical dramas, The Trial Of The Chicago 7 is a film that both desires as well as demands to be seen.
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