As the Democratic Convention of 1968 approached its opening day, the atmosphere surrounding it developed into a political maelstrom of potential mayhem and suspected violence. Held in Chicago during the Vietnam War while around the country protests against it and fights for civil liberties rose, there were fears that the agenda would be lost to the actions outside where several groups of already well-known “inciters” were descending on the site. They weren’t wrong, as a veritable police state seized the city and in the aftermath of the convention, things went from bad to worse.
Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, who is perhaps most know as the screenwriting name behind such hits as The West Wing, The Newsroom, and A Few Good Men, he rarely directs, The Trial of the Chicago 7 only his second effort in the chair. It’s a big job, the sheer number of players in this game more than a handful with a large cast and a number of important incidents needed in getting a clear picture of what happened. Sorkin is best in juggling all this with is trademark razor-sharp dialogue and propensity in getting actors to emote with tremendous authority. You believe these characters entirely, no matter which side they represent.
That cast is, as mentioned, rather large, with a few well-established headliners leading the charge, including Sacha Baron Cohen as famed activist Abbie Hoffman, Eddie Redmayne as student organizer Tom Hayden, John Carroll Lynch as professional peaceful protestor David Dellinger and Mark Rylance as defense attorney William Kunstler. There’s also Joseph Gordon-Levitt as prosecuting attorney Richard Schultz and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Panther member Bobby Seale. Oh, and of course there’s Frank Langella as the presiding judge Julius Hoffman, who we are to understand is not related to Abbie. Let’s make that clear. There’s also one more big name star who makes an appearance, but I’ll let you discover that one.
As expected, the best thing going in this all the talking. If you know anything about Sorkin, it’s that he can spin a conversation like few others, and there are several extremely well-delivered moments of acrobatic back-and-forths that find almost unearthly ways at keeping suspended, including an absolutely riveting and wildly dynamic salvo at the start of the trial. It’s a blistering banter among so many people at the same time in a setting layered in established protocol that it’s both chilling and undeniably amusing. There are many more after, including a wrenching moment concerning Mr. Seale. This is Sorkin at his best and in a very good way, you’ll recall how well he got his start at this with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson in the aforementioned A Few Good Men.
For fans of such – meaning movies that sort of soak themselves in the love of theater – this is a cinematic treat, even if the content isn’t all that fresh. Let’s face it, the story of the infamous ’68 convention and the plight of the Chicago 7 have had their fair share of light in the media and entertainment. However, it does all feel almost targeted-ly timely, the current political atmosphere ripe with similar unrest and certainly broiling with upheaval and potential violence triggered by some troublingly familiar themes.
That said, Sorkin keeps this on an even keel where lines are drawn thickly and with a singular purpose. There is embellishment for the sake of needed drama and the message is the victor rather than the push for authenticity. Still, Sorkin always creates a landscape for actors to thrive and there are times here when this must have felt like paradise for those wielding these powerful words. Definitely recommended.