Movie Details
| Title: | The Trial of the Chicago 7 | |
| Director: | Aaron Sorkin | |
| Year: | 2020 | |
| Genre: | Courtroom Drama | |
| Times Seen: | 1 | |
| Last Seen: | 12.11.20 |
Other Movies Seen By This Director (1)
- Molly's Game
| Date Viewed | Venue | Note |
| 12.11.20 | Netflix | This Screening is part of event: DVRfest 2020 Aaron Sorkin writing a courtroom drama should be a no-brainer, especially with a cast as packed as this. I didn't know much about this particular moment in history and had heard a little about Abbie Hoffman but wasn't really familiar with his "deal." I wound up liking this quite a bit; I thought it was really well structured and paced to deliver so much context and information while still being fun to watch. I guess Frank Langella only plays infuriating villains these days. He is pretty good at it so I guess that's ok. I think this is the first role I've seen Sacha Baron Cohen in where I wasn't continuously taken out of the movie by memories of his characters (or him saying "Ricky Bobby" in whatever crazy french accent he used in Talladega Nights). I was also pleasantly surprised to see John Carroll Lynch ("gooodbyyeeeee") sitting along all these other heavyweights. Jeremy Strong also killed it in an unexpected way now that I know him from Succession. I guess all these great actors gravitate to a Sorkin script like moths to a flame. Sorkin will never be some cinematic maestro with the camera but if he keeps doing projects like this he doesn't have to be. I never felt a moment where the story or performances hit a false note and intercutting (presumably) real news footage and crime scene photographs gave the historical nature of the piece some grounding. Definitely a good one... it kinda makes me want to go back to some previous Sorkin stuff and give it a re-watch. Or finally watch the goddamn Steve Jobs movie. Maybe next year. Lastly, can't go without shouting out a Lt. Rawls (in the guise of AG John Mitchell) cameo. The Wire alums continue to represent! Next up is something musical. |
