The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

The story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Director:

Aaron Sorkin

Writer:

Aaron Sorkin (screenplay)

Stars:

Eddie Redmayne, Alex Sharp, Sacha Baron Cohen

Cast

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

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

1960s | black panther party | chicago illinois | chicago 7 | activism | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout, some violence, bloody images and drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sacha Baron Cohen, who portrays Abbie Hoffman, was 48 during filming, four years younger than Abbie Hoffman was when he died in 1989.

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Goofs

Beginning at 5:35: Jerry Rubin's demonstration on how to make a Molotov cocktail is absurd. A Molotov Cocktail is made with a flammable liquid in a bottle using a piece of cloth soaked in a flammable liquid such as alcohol or kerosene as a fuse. It is not made with a cherry bomb held in place with chewing gum as a fuse.

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Quotes

Tom Hayden: What is that?
Rennie Davis: I've been keeping a list every day. Americans who've been killed since the day we were arrested.
Tom Hayden: Why?
Rennie Davis: With the trial starting, it might get easy to forget who this is about.

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Connections

Referenced in WatchMojo: Top 10 Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Streaming in October 2020 (2020)

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Soundtracks

Teen Blues
Written and Performed by Nicholas Carras
Courtesy of Sundazed Music

User Reviews

Thanks Aaron Sorkin for coming in to save 2020 cinema!

You know what isn't superb? This was splendid! Although I don't know much about what's going around in U.S cause I'm from India, I felt it. I felt emotions from all over the place. The intensity was really high, the characters were so very well written with depth. The acting was really powerful and the casting... just marvellous choices there...

Sacha baron Cohen, Joseph, Eddie redmayne and co. just wonderful, just wonderful.

I think this film can be relatable for any country. This film captured the struggle of justice so well... the lines were so very well written! And the ending!!! So powerful!!

Aaron Sorkin really is an absolute genius! He wrote this so well, such great dialogues, I absolutely love how his characters talk.

The cinematography too was absolutely incredible! So fitting!

Just brilliant, best film of 2020 for sure.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA UK India

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 2020 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Filming Locations:

Patterson, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$24,357

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dreamworks Pictures, Amblin Partners, CAA Media Finance

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1