America has been in an interesting state this year. From the devastating impact of the pandemic and its mismanagement by the government to the recent Black Lives Matter protests and rise of white supremacists, it seems as if the country was on the brink of collapse. It seems almost too good to be true then that Netflix’s latest film The Trial of the Chicago 7 released when it did, tapping into the country’s fear of racial discrimination and police brutality in a way that perfectly captures the public’s fury at the horrifying events which have plagued the country. Written and directed by master scribe Aaron Sorkin, the film tells the story of the 1968 Democratic Convention riots in Chicago and the subsequent trial of the seven individuals charged with inciting the riots, with dialogue only he could pen, crackling with intensity and urgency. Beyond the writing, the film also features some incredible performances from the entire cast including Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne and Frank Langella (to name a few) which should make it a sure-fire contender come Oscar season.
For those who don’t know the story of the Democratic convention riots, the film does a good job early on to introduce you to the many elements and characters that led to the ultimate violent clash between protestors and police. At the height of the Vietnam War, three protest groups in America – all seemingly independent yet aware of each other – agreed to demonstrate against forced conscription by rallying in Chicago’s Grant Park. Once the police arrive and things get out of hand, chaos erupts, ultimately leading to the arrest of eight men: Tom Hayden (Eddie Redmayne), Rennie Davis (Alex Sharp), Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen), Jerry Rubin (Jeremy Strong), David Dillinger (John Carroll Lynch), John Froines (Danny Flaherty), Lee Weiner (Noah Robbins) and Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), the leader of the Black Panthers. The trial that ensues is anything but ordinary, a farcical mess thanks to the clearly prejudiced presiding Judge Julius Hoffman (Frank Langella), leaving defence attorney William Kunstler (Mark Rylance) little recourse in his fight for justice; essentially handing the win to prosecution lawyer Richard Schultz (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).
While it does take some dramatic liberties with certain aspects of the story, Sorkin’s script is a masterclass in engaging, fast-flowing dialogue. The few scenes of action are very well shot, with Sorkin showing an eye for fast, frenetic paced chaos but it is the dialogue that is utterly spellbinding and will have you glued to your seat throughout the entire trial. Rarely do courtroom films feel so alive and full of energy, with each outburst from the judge or one of the defendants adding an extra layer to the trial and further stacking the deck against the Chicago 7. It might not be entirely realistic for the court to be so lively but Sorkin writes with such passion for justice that it is extremely hard not to get invested, as Kunstler desperately attempts to make Judge Hoffman see reason and that Bobby Seale’s rights are being infringed upon. Seale is the only accused not to be represented by Kunstler (hence it not being the Chicago 8) and his back-and-forth with Judge Hoffman is magnificent, filled with rage and mutual contempt. It has been a good long while since I have been as invested in a film’s courtroom case as much as this one, and it is clearly an area that Sorkin thrives in, following A Few Good Men and The Social Network’s equally arresting trials.
A good script is nothing without actors to bring it to life and Sorkin has assembled a veritable smorgasbord of talent here to do it. Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden is the perpetually unsure yet resolute champion for civil rights revolution through non-violent, legal means. Redmayne fluctuates between remorse for the riots that he may have had a hand in starting and confidence that – once they bite their tongues and win the trial – they can continue to make strides towards civil rights change. You can feel the internal conflict within Redmayne; moving between nervous looks and hard unblinking gazes that underly the terror he feels at the thought of going to prison. Sacha Baron Cohen’s Abby Hoffman, on the other hand, does not share this same view, perpetually confident that the trial will be the loud, public spectacle that will bring worldwide attention to the civil rights injustice in America and willing to sacrifice himself for that ideal if need be. The not-so-subtle jabs he and the equally great Jeremy Strong shoot at Judge Hoffman are particular highlights; moments of levity and humour that give the audience a respite from the bleak outlook of the trial. As the trial wears on, Abby’s confident façade begins to fade, a weariness settling over him and a fear that the trial will not actually change things. Baron Cohen’s performance is excellent, playing not only to his comedic strengths but also his outspoken political ideals (just look at his Borat sequel); a winning combination that may just net him a well-deserved Best Supporting Actor nod.
Frank Langella threatens to outshine them all, however, as the aggressively one-sided Judge Hoffman. The man embodies the worst traits of the upper class; snubbing his nose at the “hippy” Chicago 7 and denying them their due process in the system. It’s a performance that, on its surface, works to make you absolutely loathe the character and get you completely behind the Chicago 7, but Langella goes a step further, giving the Judge perhaps a hint of Dementia or some other illness as he stumbles through speeches at times, contorting his face in odd expressions and ignoring the rigid rules of the court in order to espouse his own opinions. It works to ground the character as a relic of a time gone by and a physical embodiment of the pro-Vietnam sentiment that the protesting defendants are up against. To this man, not enlisting is one of the most heinous crimes that can be committed, regardless of the reasoning, and no force on earth will stop him from convicting these men.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is an incredibly timely film. One that will have you in a blind rage at the injustices you are seeing, made all the more potent by the contemporary comparisons that can be made. Aaron Sorkin’s writing is as excellent as ever, if a little bombastic at times, but it does the trick to get you so completely behind these eight men that have suffered such injustice. With excellent performances from the entire cast and some spot-on costuming and set design that will have you thinking you’ve been transported to the 60’s, this is an absolute home-run of a film for Netflix; a serious awards contender that deserves the praise that is being heaped on it and the best film of the year so far.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 stars Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Frank Langella, Mark Rylance, Jeremy Strong, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Alex Sharp, John Carroll Lynch, Ben Shenkman & Michael Keaton – Streaming on Netflix now.