The timeliness of the must see 2020 legal drama film by Aaron Sorkin is streaming now on NetFlix. Trial of the Chicago 7 gives us all historic insight to the intention of 8 individuals who were charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines to incite riots during the 1968 Chicago Democratic convention. The Chicago Eight Trial which became The Chicago 7, also was referred to as the Conspiracy Trial.
These anti Viet Nam protesters include Civil Rights activists Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), Tom Hayden (Eddie Redmayne) and Rennie Davis (Alex Sharp), two leaders of Students for a Democratic Society, David Dellinger (John Carroll Lynch), from Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam, and nonconformists Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Jerry Rubin (Jeremy Strong) from the Youth International Party (the Yippies). Throw in actors Michael Keaton and Joseph Gordon-Levitt who also add to the greatness of the cast, right?
One finds oneself appalled on an emotional roller coaster of seeing what transpired during these turbulent 60's and the relevancy of what today's Black Lives Matter protesters are still battling. Moving courtroom monologues interspersed with film footage of the actual events help to retell this true political time of unrest where these individuals and their groups clashed with the National Guard and Chicago police. That is all but one, the Black Panther Bobby Seale who was wrongfully included, without legal representation and unconscionable treatment of being gagged and bound in a courtroom where justice should be served no less.
You know it's a good film when you not only learn something but find yourself doing research after the film is over. Kudos to Sorkin for a job well done. Trial of the Chicago 7 reminds us of the all too familiar racism and social justice issues of 50 years ago still facing us today...
MAIN TRAILER TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
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