# My Expectation
I had already heard so much about the movie in the news in relation to the Black Lives Matter Protests, on Netflix, in the Academy Awards that by the time I got to watching it, I already knew it was going to be something great. Something worth raving about. What I was afraid of however, was the movie to get too political and a courtroom drama scene about the US Politics, to which I'm mostly an outsider (although I do try to keep my fair share of knowledge). But as Oscar winning movies usually are, serious, dramatic and slow, I was worried this would be similar and I would end up with something too complicated. But it turned out to be the complete opposite, in a good way.
# Themes The main theme of the movie was the 1968 Democratic National Convention Protests and the trial of the Chicago 7 obviously. But besides this I think the movie was also trying to convey a couple of other important things like the Corruption in the US Judicial System, The Failure of Democracy, the Systematic Injustices Induced Upon Black People and the power Of The People. All of these combined in a fast moving film which induce emotions in the audience is what made this movie particularly special.
# Most Striking Details 1. Aaron Sorkin particularly plays with your emotions in the emotions by hitting the trigger points that presently haunt our society. Take the example of Fred Hampton who was shot by the police. The scene with its glimpses of shooting in black and white remind the audience of the injustice we still face in the present day society about Police Brutality Against the Blacks. Or the particularly agitating scene where Bobby Seale is bound and gagged to be presented in front of the court. We can see the tense faces of all the people present in the room and the disgrace or humiliation of a white man sitting there. It angered and humiliated and ignited feelings of revenge from me, a brown guy sitting thousands of miles across in India, so I can't even imagine what the colored people in America felt seeing that scene. It was a brutal reminder that the America they live in isn't really free for everyone.
2. Characters: We saw only a short instance in the characters lives, a particularly small moment that was big at that time. But still a spec in their entire life spectrum. We didn't know anything about their backgrounds, or their personalities, but as the movie developed, in just 120 minutes, the director was able to stand out each of the character individually, and give the audience their motive, their personality and the political values very easily, without using exposition, which was remarkably done.
3. Acting: The acting by the actors is commendable. Sacha Baron Cohen expressed his lack of confidence playing Abbie Hoffman because Hoffman had a strict Massachusetts accent. But at the end the role he portrayed was so relevant and true to his character. There were many British actors who acted out American characters very well, like Eddie Redmayne who played Tom Hayden etc. Bobby seal's role by Yahya Abdul was done impeccably. The rage, the irritation and the disappointment in a system and country designed to favor White Privilege is exhibited clearly though his acting and expressions throughout the movie.
4. Screenplay: The dialogues in the movie never get boring, but instead with Abbie Hoffman's humor actually make it more interesting. You'd expect a lot of political jargon in the movie which a layman couldn't get a grip on, but the Sorkin wrote the script so easy and flowing with breezy characters and funny punchlines that have a deeper meaning to them that make the movie interesting while having it hit the spot inside us too.
5. Soundtrack: The background music by Pemberton was excellent and completely apt to theme. Starting the song, "Hear My Dream" that tugs on your heart strings to the patriotic emotional number "Stand Up(The Chicago 7)", the movie's soundtrack plays a big role in igniting the feelings among the audiences. Without it, the movie is a dish without any spice or flavour...just bland.
# What The Movie Lacked?
Some people may account that the movie isn't accurate to the real events, and after researching online I agree, it isn't. But i don't hold it against the film or the director really. Some things need to be edited out in a commercial film, especially one that is being made for ALL audiences across the world. It is a dramatised movie of the events, NOT a documentary. The director has the right and will need to modify some things to get the message and the emotions across, which i felt was done aptly.
# Verdict Overall, what I thought might be a slow, political watch turned out to be something worth watching again. The movie ignites raw emotions, completely apt with the times we are living in and touches a deep spot. It is very well made, the dialogues and the screenplay is one of the most brilliant pieces. The acting is true to the characters.
The movie is a must watch for everyone as it will trigger our emotions and make us revolt and get angry at the system no matter where we are from and will make us get ideas that might not be appreciated by all.
"William Kunstler: Do you know why you're on trial here?
Abbie Hoffman: We carried certain ideas across state lines. Not machine guns or drugs or little girls. Ideas. When we crossed from New York to New Jersey to Pennsylvania to Ohio to Illinois, we had certain ideas. And for that, we were gassed, beaten, arrested, and put on trial."
# Themes The main theme of the movie was the 1968 Democratic National Convention Protests and the trial of the Chicago 7 obviously. But besides this I think the movie was also trying to convey a couple of other important things like the Corruption in the US Judicial System, The Failure of Democracy, the Systematic Injustices Induced Upon Black People and the power Of The People. All of these combined in a fast moving film which induce emotions in the audience is what made this movie particularly special.
# Most Striking Details 1. Aaron Sorkin particularly plays with your emotions in the emotions by hitting the trigger points that presently haunt our society. Take the example of Fred Hampton who was shot by the police. The scene with its glimpses of shooting in black and white remind the audience of the injustice we still face in the present day society about Police Brutality Against the Blacks. Or the particularly agitating scene where Bobby Seale is bound and gagged to be presented in front of the court. We can see the tense faces of all the people present in the room and the disgrace or humiliation of a white man sitting there. It angered and humiliated and ignited feelings of revenge from me, a brown guy sitting thousands of miles across in India, so I can't even imagine what the colored people in America felt seeing that scene. It was a brutal reminder that the America they live in isn't really free for everyone.
2. Characters: We saw only a short instance in the characters lives, a particularly small moment that was big at that time. But still a spec in their entire life spectrum. We didn't know anything about their backgrounds, or their personalities, but as the movie developed, in just 120 minutes, the director was able to stand out each of the character individually, and give the audience their motive, their personality and the political values very easily, without using exposition, which was remarkably done.
3. Acting: The acting by the actors is commendable. Sacha Baron Cohen expressed his lack of confidence playing Abbie Hoffman because Hoffman had a strict Massachusetts accent. But at the end the role he portrayed was so relevant and true to his character. There were many British actors who acted out American characters very well, like Eddie Redmayne who played Tom Hayden etc. Bobby seal's role by Yahya Abdul was done impeccably. The rage, the irritation and the disappointment in a system and country designed to favor White Privilege is exhibited clearly though his acting and expressions throughout the movie.
4. Screenplay: The dialogues in the movie never get boring, but instead with Abbie Hoffman's humor actually make it more interesting. You'd expect a lot of political jargon in the movie which a layman couldn't get a grip on, but the Sorkin wrote the script so easy and flowing with breezy characters and funny punchlines that have a deeper meaning to them that make the movie interesting while having it hit the spot inside us too.
5. Soundtrack: The background music by Pemberton was excellent and completely apt to theme. Starting the song, "Hear My Dream" that tugs on your heart strings to the patriotic emotional number "Stand Up(The Chicago 7)", the movie's soundtrack plays a big role in igniting the feelings among the audiences. Without it, the movie is a dish without any spice or flavour...just bland.
# What The Movie Lacked?
Some people may account that the movie isn't accurate to the real events, and after researching online I agree, it isn't. But i don't hold it against the film or the director really. Some things need to be edited out in a commercial film, especially one that is being made for ALL audiences across the world. It is a dramatised movie of the events, NOT a documentary. The director has the right and will need to modify some things to get the message and the emotions across, which i felt was done aptly.
# Verdict Overall, what I thought might be a slow, political watch turned out to be something worth watching again. The movie ignites raw emotions, completely apt with the times we are living in and touches a deep spot. It is very well made, the dialogues and the screenplay is one of the most brilliant pieces. The acting is true to the characters.
The movie is a must watch for everyone as it will trigger our emotions and make us revolt and get angry at the system no matter where we are from and will make us get ideas that might not be appreciated by all.
"William Kunstler: Do you know why you're on trial here?
Abbie Hoffman: We carried certain ideas across state lines. Not machine guns or drugs or little girls. Ideas. When we crossed from New York to New Jersey to Pennsylvania to Ohio to Illinois, we had certain ideas. And for that, we were gassed, beaten, arrested, and put on trial."
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