Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

The Trial Of The Chicago 7 

This film is a perfectly acted, masterfully crafted and riveting courtroom drama that is truly one of Aaron Sorkin’s best works he has ever brought to the screen! This film had me excited the moment it got announced when I heard Sorkin was going to be directing this film I was immediatly on board as Sorkin is my second favourite screenwriter right next to Tarantino. And he has shown for decades why he is truly a genius of the written word and then not until recently has he also shown audiences that he can direct a film as well as his screenwriting abilities with Mollys Game. Which I think is an amazing film that didn’t get nearly enough attention so you could say I was very excited to see his next directed film. He didn’t disappoint as the  Images shown through the camera is  shocking, mesmerizing and at times incredibly unsettling moments that are brought to the frame through such brutal honesty that you cannot look away from. The Trial Of The Chicago 7 isn’t just one of the best films of the year it is one of the best films I have ever seen. 

Firstly, The way Aaron Sorkin brings this story to the screen is nothing short of genius. As the moment it starts you are locked in and totally in awe of what you are witnessing as I have always loved the way he builds and delivers his words in a unapologetic honesty that feels raw and truthful in every film he has ever done and he brings that same brutal truth to this film in such a real way. The film tackles heavy handed topics that he dose not sugar coat or glamorize in any sense when it gets dark and ugly he delves deep into the dark depths of that hell and shows it for how it went down. It at times can be unsettling to witness but Aaron wants the audience to witness the true horror of it and not shy away from it because what this story represents and stands for is terrifyingly relevant to today even though the film’s story takes place in 1968 it feels very much a story of what we face in todays political system. The film never at any time felt like it was beating me over the head with its political message. It is the most authentic and honest courtroom drama I have seen in years and Aaron is working with his greatest strengths as we know he can write words in such a compelling way very few people can. That being said he first came on to the scene with his genius story back in the 1990’s with A Few Good Men which was a dazzling courtroom drama and in a sense it feels very poetic that after all this time he returns to his love of courtroom dramas. Here the film is layered in emotional rawness and incredible depth as their is not one moment you are not engaged as he shows every character and their backstory as well as their impact to this Trial. He gives every actor time to shine with their incredibly well shown performances. Aaron shows the scariness of how the justice system is corrupt and at times brutal to people who want to tell the truth and have their voice heard and within that crafts what I think is one of his best pieces of writing of his entire career.  

Secondly, The performances in this film is one of the best casts I have seen assembled on the big screen for any motion picture. Sacha Baron Cohen Delivers the  finest performance of his career. Sacha plays Abbie Hoffman the leader and really the centrepiece of the film he brings this real life person to the screen with emotional complexity and wit that never compromised the serious aspects of his drive. It is a truly incredible showcase of Sacha’s greatest strengths in what is his best performance ever. Eddie Redmayne delivers one of his best performances of his career as the very layered Tom Hayden. Eddie brings this person to the screen who walks a very thin line and you cannot pin point what he stands for throughout the whole film until the final act of the film it is a layered and compelling performance that has Eddie Redmayne firing on all cylinders. Yahya Abdul - Mateen II showcases an outstanding supporting performance that will have you rattled. He isn’t in the film as much as I had hoped but fore the screen time he does have he chews it up with his incredible emotional depth and brutal honesty in which he speaks it is a performance that will stay with you. And then you have Mark Rylance brings this outstanding turn as the  lawyer for the people on trial and at first is very soft spoken and quiet but then evolves and becomes very emotionally wrapped up in what he is dealing with as Mark brings what I think is his greatest onscreen performance yet. That very much reminded me of Gregory Peck in How To Kill A Mockingbird it is a performance that captures your attention and grips you all the way through. Overall all the performances in this film are top notch their is not one performance that is weak or bad everyone in the cast brings their A game. No matter how big or how small their role was they all showcase their amazing performance in this film that will leave you in absolute awe. 

Lastly, The Trial Of The Chicago 7 is a masterclass in filmmaking, acting, writing and in storytelling. Aaron Sorkin crafts a story that is brutally honest and incredibly relevant to todays current political climate. The moment the first frame comes across screen you will not be able to look away. The entire cast as well deliver performances that are truly outstanding on every level. The story will have you discussing and debating after the film is long over about the messages that were woven into the story as it is a story that will have you wanting to revisit it the moment it is over. Aaron Sorkin has brought his directing abilities to new heights and I cannot wait to see what he does next as The Trial Of The Chicago 7 isn’t just a great film its a freaking masterpiece in filmmaking on the highest level. 

The film centres around the true story of the 1968 democratic convention and the riots that broke out around it resulting in one of the most famous and political trials in American history

Rated R : (Drug Use|Bloody Images|Language Throughout|Some Violence

Sacha Baron Cohen : Sacha Baron Cohen delivers a performance for the ages! Sacha is an actor that quite frankly can do it all from his fun movies that have pushed the envelope in what you can do with comedy with Ali G and Borat. He has also done work in musicals twice and then he can do dramas the man is incredibly underrated for how talented he truly is. Sacha plays the eccentric and vocal activist that sticks to his word and wants nothing more but peace and for people to get along. At times the way he goes about conveying that message one could call it confrontational in his approach but his heart is in the right place. Sacha is able to bring such a layered and complex human to the surface in a way that impressed the hell out of me. He is able to get his political and social points across brilliantly in this stand up sort of routine. As throughout the film it flashes to him onstage talking to an audience of the story that we are being told but exactly from his perspective. Now the way he does that is genius because he is able to bring hints of wit and humour to the situation through sarcastic remarks but it never compromises the dramatic weight of the situation. He then can bring very serious and deep rooted emotional aspects of himself we have not seen before in a performance that is unlike anything he has ever done in the past. When he speaks you can feel the passion you can feel the heartache he feels for being brought in to be questioned for something he knows he didn’t do. When he is called on the witness stand and is made to answer questions in a very unflattering way of asking he shines in such a remarkable light of genuine emotion. As you can see in his eyes and his heart that this has absolutely shattered his heart inside but will not rest until he knows that the American people know his voice was heard in the way he intended it to be heard. Its quite powerful to be honest and Sacha walks up the task of bringing sides to him that will blow you away it is a emotionally harrowing performance that will have you gripped the moment it starts and have you blown away from what Sacha is bringing to the screen in a career best performance. like I said it can be witty at times but not in a comedic sense but in a way that is to look at the situation through a lease of some type of humour for sure but it is because he knows if he dose not do that the amounting stress and sheer impact of what is going on will crush him. He is fully aware of the seriousness of the situation and does address it in the serious manner that it should but that is what I love about his performance it is not a straight arrow performance it is complex and it is rooted in such layers that he explores throughout the film and Sacha is incredible demanding the screen in a tour de force performance. 

Eddie Redmayne : Eddie Redmayne is truly outstanding in a performance that is honestly one of the best of his career! This man has given us great performance one after the other and he won the Oscar for playing Stephen Hawking a couple of years Ago a performance in which I wouldn’t think he would ever be Able to top and then I saw this film.   Redmayne plays this very undecided character and I say that because he is constantly flip flopping on where he stands morally with the people he has joined himself with. I never could pinpoint where he sided until the third act of this film as he is constantly throwing mean and harsh comments to Abbie right left and centre and it reaches a boiling point where enough is enough and both of them reach a very heated verbal confrontation that leads to one of them getting psychical with one another. Eddie also soaks his voice in this American Accent and disappears into the role as he takes this role head on with such commitment and honesty in his depiction of this person. Eddie Redmayne usually plays characters who are usually very soft spoken and the good guys as he has played a lot of roles like that in the past but here he breaks that mold and that image that has been created over the years and completely shatters it. As Tom is very hostile in his treatment of his friends at times but is very strict on staying professional in the courtroom but the ideology his friends stand behind he is part of but his heart isn’t as their and present as his friends are until something happens towards the end that eventually pushes him over the edge to fully embrace what his friends have been chanting all along. Eddie steps up to the task and takes this complicated human being on with all the colours that come with it. As he has amazing moments onscreen where he chews up the scenery with his fantastic charisma and jaw dropping accent and emotional tightness he holds in but then starts exploding it out in small out bursts that are so emotionally genuine. Redmayne may be quiet in the courtroom and keep his composure but the moment he steps outside those doors he unleashes what he has been holding in his heart in such an emotionally gripping way I have never seen him channel. It is a performance that I could not look away from and is truly a performance that is one of Eddie’s best work he has ever given onscreen he is truly extraordinary. 

 Yahya Abdul - Mateen II : Yahya gives a performance that will rattle you to your core! Yahya gives a performance that really stuck with me as he plays bobby Seale a man who had no reason to be at that Trial or be in that room as he is put in that room purely for being black which boils my blood. As he is constantly denied his ability to speak despite him being denied legal counsel. He literally gaged in front of the entire court for not keeping his mouth shut and to me was the most unsettling scene of the film next to the riot scenes that were recreated. Yahya plays this role with strong wielded emotional depth that will break your heart and shatter it into pieces as he isn’t as onscreen as much as I had hoped but for the screen time he does have chews up the scenery with his amazing charisma and dedicated emotional depth. When you see him sitting at that table in the courtroom even without speaking you can see the anger boiling in his heart and sheer annoyance in his head. Then when he stands up and attempts to voice himself he tries to talk over the judge and voice what he needs to say despite being told no and the way Yahya can convey such raw emotional honesty is incredibly moving and he steals each Frame he is in and commands the screen with his incredible supporting turn that will break your heart and amaze you all at once. I cannot wait to see what he does next as showed such incredible work with his performance in this film and truly gave a performance that is truly unforgettable. 

Mark Rylance : Rylance delivers yet again another masterful performance! Mark has been giving solid performances one after the other and can now add this to another one of his all time best performances. He plays the lawyer defending the 7 men on Trial for something they clearly were not part of starting and in the beginning we are introduced to him and see him as a well composed and calm person who try’s to not let his emotions get the best of him. But as the Trial goes into more of a chaotic spin he starts to abandon those strict ethics that he followed so closely as he knows this won’t be your typical case. As well he is angered More and more due to the corruption and sheer attempt to cover the Police for their wrongdoings in the riot and he is hellbent to find the truth in this case that is very ugly and unsettling but even if he looses won’t stop until he has given it his last breath in his body. Rylance is amazing as we see him like I said calm and collected but then transition into someone who abandons his calm rules and does act emotionally and we see those emotions on full display in such a raw way. Their is a moment where he looses it at the judge in sheer frustration and anger at his handling of this Trial and how unprofessional he’s done at his job and its a moment that will quiet everyone in the room. Mark wears his heart on his sleeve and is determined to seek the justice in a very corrupt case and Rylance soaks his heart in the emotional depth that he is thrust upon and grabs every word and smashes it down with truth and demanding presence that will have you in total awe of how he is showcasing this characrer. It is truly a performance that is his best work ever as he starts as this quite composed person and then throws himself in this emotional tornado that he cant stop acting in until the job is done what a masterful performance by Mark. 

Aaron Sorkin : Aaron Sorkin is a master of the pen and of the directors chair! Sorkin as I mentioned multiple times is a master of the screenwriting craft that can do what very few can do with words. Now when he delved himself into direction in 2017 with Mollys Game I was so excited as it was a one two punch as he not only was directing it but also of course wrote the script as he now is taking on the task of both positions. I still think Molly’s Game was vastly underrated upon its release. And I am glad that he is now getting more attention as a director for his work on the Trial Of The Chicago 7 which I think is some of the best work of his entire career. As he takes his love for courtroom dramas and doubles down on it by exploring the depths of these seven individuals and their personal lives and how they all clashed and crossed one another path in some shape way or form. As well as showing the corruption within the justice system who tried to do their best to not put the blame on the Chicago Police when it should have and the total frustration and sheer anger of Police brutality and it is addressed head on. Their is no ignoring or shying away from any of the darker moments those are shown in its most honest form in at times truly horrifying ways that will leave you with a knot in your stomach. The words he puts together punch you in the jaw and shatter you in the greatest way as this film is told for 95% of it in the courtroom and he shows the growing ager and mountain that these people had to climb to try to voice their opinions and this is a story that is taken place in 1968 but feels horrifyingly relevant to the political climate of today and is extremely important to view. Aaron is unapologetic in the way he shows how these events went down he wants you to see the ugliness the violence the horror and what these people suffered and how they were slammed emotionally to try to shut them up and put the blame on the wrong people instead of the Police who actually deserved it and Aaron wrote a masterpiece of writing and directed this film incredibly. While also getting amazing performances from his entire cast and showcasing some of the best work he has ever done Aaron Sorkin is a living legend and once again has given a film that will have people talking about it for years to come truly genius work.