Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Eddie Redmayne | ... | Tom Hayden | |
Alex Sharp | ... | Rennie Davis | |
Sacha Baron Cohen | ... | Abbie Hoffman | |
Jeremy Strong | ... | Jerry Rubin | |
John Carroll Lynch | ... | David Dellinger | |
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II | ... | Bobby Seale | |
Mark Rylance | ... | William Kunstler | |
Joseph Gordon-Levitt | ... | Richard Schultz | |
Ben Shenkman | ... | Leonard Weinglass | |
J.C. MacKenzie | ... | Thomas Foran | |
Frank Langella | ... | Judge Julius Hoffman | |
Danny Flaherty | ... | John Froines | |
Noah Robbins | ... | Lee Weiner | |
John Doman | ... | John Mitchell | |
Michael Keaton | ... | Ramsey Clark |
In Chicago 1968, the Democratic Party Convention was met with protests from activists like the moderate Students for a Democratic Society led by Tom Hayden and the militant Yippies led by Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, which led to violent confrontations with the local authorities. As a result, seven of the accused ringleaders are arraigned on charges like Conspiracy by the hostile Nixon administration, including Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers who was not involved in the incident. What follows is an unfair trial presided by the belligerent Judge Hoffman (No relation) and prosecuted by a reluctant but duty-bound Richard Schultz. As their pro bono lawyers face such odds, Hayden and his fellows are frustrated by the Yippies' outrageous antics undermining their defense in defiance of the system even while Seale is denied a chance to defend himself his way. Along the way, the Chicago 7 clash in their political philosophies even as they learn they need each other in this fight. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol1970@gmail.com)
" I have never been on trial for my thoughts", this one line sums it up about the whole movie. Watch the movie, not only for 5 reasons given by Yayha Abdul Mateen, but the writing, the thoughts, and deliverance. When I decided to watch this movie, it was only for the reason of Aaron Sorkin and star cast and with very limited knowledge of the events which took place in 1968 in chicago. However, with in first 30 minutes of 2 hours, it took me back to days when a one minute long monologue of Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men" gave goosebumps to an adult of 18 years of age who was not very fluent in english and not very familiar with american judicial system or revelation in " Charlie Wilson's War" , which was an another vantage point of looking at geo-politics happening in my country and region.
The Trial of Chicago 7 may not have a room to depict drama as seen in previous work of Aaron Sorkins, however in 2 hours and 9 minutes, Aaron and cast of the movie has depicted whatever they could. The script not only provided a dimension to the trial, but the struggles of the main 7 character and the bianess they encountered from the Judicial System.
The Court Room thriller, which also based on real event has become alive with this movie and surely will take back you to the days of "Primal Fear", "12 Angry Men", " Philadelphia", " A Few Good Men" , in which words, thoughts, and real human expression influenced an individual's thinking process.
The entire cast of the movie has performed their best and Aaron Sorkins in his second direction venture has given a classic. The movie which for first few minutes appeared to be political satire eventually turned out to be a great political case, as told by Sacha Baron Cohen.