Review: The Trial Of The Chicago 7
Aaron Sorkin is undoubtedly one of the most influential writers of our generation. In many ways, he wrote the playbook on how to craft a compelling drama. From stage plays to TV shows to film, he has moved with relative ease from one medium to the next with countless awards and nominations in his wake. However, directing is a different game altogether. After a disappointing foray into directing with Molly’s Game Aaron Sorkin had a lot riding on his sophomoric effort with The Trial of the Chicago 7. Add on the fact that he’s tackling an incredibly fraught topic during these politically tense times, and Sorkin’s job was less than enviable. Sorkin was invited to work on the project by Steven Spielberg over a decade ago, but the movie was shelved and it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that Sorkin decided to resurface the story which chronicles the trial of seven men accused of inciting riots during the 1968 democratic convention.
The film features a notable ensemble portraying Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen), Jerry Rubin, (Jeremy Strong) and Tom Hayden (Eddie Redmayne) among others. The group’s attorney, William Kunstler, is portrayed by the always-exceptional Mark Rylance and the co-founder of the Black Panther Party, Bobby Seale is played by rising star, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Though the men hold differing ideologies, they are united in a single goal: to convey their utter rejection of the Vietnam War. The riots in which all of these men participated, though not necessarily together, were pinned on these seven figures because of their leadership roles in each of their respective groups.
What follows is a courtroom drama that showcases stellar performances from said ensemble. And while some of the themes feel resonant and relevant, the too-tidy ending is a reminder that Sorkin is from a different era of storytelling. His skills as a director, however, is on an upward trend and I have high hopes for what he tackles next.