The Trial of the Chicago 7

Released 30th September 2020, The Trial of the Chicago 7 connotes the 1969 trial of 7 defendants who were on trial for inciting violence in Vietnam war protests. The film has a similar tone to The Big Short and Vice in the way it communicates a sometimes harrowing story based on real events while maintaining a comedic tone through the most-part. While the film is very funny, it also tackles the themes of corruption, peace and even race; themes that weave naturally into the narrative while remaining poignant in key moments. Due to there being 7 defendants straight out of the gate, the cast of the film is quite expansive; that said, they all give a successful performance which is believable. However, this also means that many characters feel rather underdeveloped and even dropped with the drop of a hat.

Frank Langella is a notable standout as the trial’s incompetent judge Julius Hoffman. Much like Gordon Northcott and Percy Wetmore from Changeling and The Green Mile, respectfully, Langella instils a feeling of injustice and subsequent rage whenever he appears with his obnoxiously unapologetic misconduct towards the defendants. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II provides a suave yet combustible attitude to the Black Panther member who is inappropriately roped into the trial that he has no opportunity to defend in due to his racial identity. Eddie Redmayne and Mark Rylance were great as defendant Tom Hayden and defence lawyer William Kunstler; both characters acting within the legal grey area of the defendants while gradually realising that the law is far more malleable than it should be. Sacha Baron Cohen manages to bring his universally known comedic timing and delivery to the wisecrack defendant Abbie Hoffman (“And the record should reflect, that defendant Hoffman and [Julius] are not related.”); a character who is a lot more grounded than he lets on…

Joseph Gordon-Levitt also gives Richard Schultz, the prosecution lawyer, a well rounded performance which conveys an acknowledgment of the injustice occurring. Whilst not particularly stylised, the visual atmosphere is achieved very well through the editing of actual periodic footage and alternate narrators of certain events; choices which make the pace flow much greater than it may have otherwise. While working well in the moment, the soundtrack isn’t really memorable and never heightened any specific moments too much. Overall, .The Trial of Chicago 7 carries is discomforting story with great performances of characters who could possibly have been utilised better.