Thoughts on The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)?

It’s been quite some time since I’ve sat through a film this old-fashioned, isn't it? The strength lies entirely in the narrative and the performances. While there will undoubtedly be those who take issue with the plot itself, one cannot deny that the film is masterfully crafted from start to finish, and even the sentimentalism at the end doesn't feel forced.
Does one really need to be an expert on the subject matter to appreciate the artistry here? Not at all.

Aaron Sorkin certainly knows how to write, and he certainly knows how to direct.

In short, it is an excellent piece of cinema.

IMDB

frozenskipper12 said:The Trial of the Chicago 7

It’s an old-school movie—the kind I haven't seen in ages. The plot and the acting really carry it. Sure, people are going to nitpick the story itself, but from a technical standpoint? This thing is masterfully crafted from start to finish. Honestly, even the sentimental stuff at the end didn't bother me one bit.

He knows how to write Aaron Sorkin and how to direct.

Bottom line: great movie.

Exactly—the production value is top-notch.
As for the plot, it's just your typical Aaron Sorkin move—there's always that emotional payoff where they get to humiliate some religious zealot or, in this case, a government judge. It almost feels like watching those "got rekt" compilations on YouTube. 😁
It would have been being cool if Aaron Sorkin had done a little cameo, like appearing through the window of that cafe or something. 😁

hollowowl15 said:Exactly so; it was captured quite brilliantly, wouldn't you agree?
As for the narrative itself, isn't it just typical Aaron Sorkin? Aaron SorkinIt always seems to come down to that same emotional payoff, doesn't it? Whether they're humiliating some religious zealot or, in this instance, a judge acting as a puppet for the regime, the whole thing feels less like cinema and more like one of those "get rekt" compilations you find on YouTube. 😁
Wouldn't it be something if Aaron Sorkin made a quick cameo, perhaps just a fleeting glimpse through the interior side of that cafe window? 😁

Is there anything particularly wrong with a bit of typical Sorkin? It’s certainly an acceptable way to spend an afternoon.

That scene where they face off through the cafe window—it’s a genuine stroke of brilliance, isn't it? Honestly, if you look closely, the film is peppered with those little flashes of pure genius.

To be honest, my only real grievance was with the judge; I just couldn't quite get Robert Langella to fully inhabit the role.

I actually really enjoyed this one. I’ve always had a soft spot for anything written by Aaron Sorkin, even if he does tend to lean into that heavy-handed sentimentality right at the end. Regardless, it was a fascinating story that I wasn't familiar with before. The acting was incredible—honestly, the cast is absolutely stacked.

I have to admit, I’m a fan of Aaron Sorkin; I ended up binge-watching the entirety of The West Wing entirely on my own accord.

However, this particular piece just didn't quite move the needle for me. 🤷

I felt the exact same way—it was pretty cheesy.

Is the movie even trying to play it neutral?

Of course not. It isn't a documentary.

Richard Wilson4 said:Does the movie even attempt to maintain some semblance of neutrality?

Neutrality regarding what, exactly?

Honestly, the judge really went out there and absolutely dismantled that Pantera guy in real life, especially after they kept him from having a lawyer for a year and a half leading up to it. 🙏 🙏

I enjoyed the movie, even if the ending felt a bit overly sentimental. I think Leonard Cohen could have worked on his American accent a little more, but it wasn't a dealbreaker.

I see there is a film about Fred Hampton coming out soon, and based on the trailer, he seems like a much more compelling subject.

frozenskipper12 said:Neutral about what?

Politically speaking.

The whole 1968 revolution basically built the modern world we live in today.
Does the movie make everything in America before '68 look bad, or is it more of a middle-ground take?

Richard Wilson4 said:Politically speaking.

The 1968 revolution essentially carved out the shape of our modern world.
Does the film imply everything in America prior to 1968 was inherently negative, or is the perspective somewhat more balanced?

It portrays that famous courtroom drama exactly as it unfolded—granted, with a certain sympathy for the defendants.
But isn't that just how it actually happened? People weren't given adequate counsel, they were restrained and quite literally gagged in the courtroom, and arrested even when it was clear their involvement in those events was negligible.
Everything about that trial is public record, so I fail to see the point in asking you such a thing.

Pretty solid movie. A few really standout performances too, especially with Tom Hayden and Sacha Baron Cohen doing his thing.

Honestly, this feels even more mindless than some random filler episode of a streaming series...
If people are actually calling this an Oscar contender, it just goes to show how much the bar has dropped lately.
And don't even get me started on the dialogue; it’s like sitting through a dry podcast instead of actually watching a movie...

Just bad.

History vs. Hollywood: The real facts behind the movie

https://www.historyvshollywood.com/r...the-chicago-7/

The roles and characters? Absolutely top-tier. That’s the big one right there. I don't even need to harp on how sharp the writing is... and yeah, Aaron Sorkin definitely knows his way around a director's chair—we already knew that from Molly's game—but man, he really leveled up with this one.

Even though most of the action happens in the courtroom—which is basically his natural habitat at this point—what goes down outside those doors is just as vital.

The rest is pretty much what you'd expect: it's built on these intense clashes and punchy dialogue driven by powerhouse characters. What I found super interesting was how they balanced the screen time among that whole ensemble of A-listers. Everyone's performance is handled perfectly; nobody overpowers the scene, and everyone gets their moment to shine while serving the story perfectly.

Netflix is letting people stream The Trial of the Chicago 7 for free on YouTube to mark the anniversary of that historic verdict. It’ll be live on Netflix's official YouTube channel from noon on February 19th until midnight on February 20th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k9C...ctr=1613822347

If you haven't seen it yet, you've got until midnight.