THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 REVIEW

Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial Of The Chicago 7 tells the true story of the real life Chicago Seven and a group of anti-Vietnam War protesters as they are charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with intent of starting riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

I had the chance to go see The Trial Of The Chicago 7 in a cinema prior to its arrival on Netflix a couple of weeks later back in October. By the way, for anyone who has a Regency theatre near your area, I would recommend it as it is a nice little auditorium and quieter than most cinemas that I have attended to previously.

The film has an interesting history of getting made. Originally, Aaron Sorkin had written the screenplay back in 2006 with Steven Spielberg looking to direct it. However, with many delays and the production being on and off and more importantly because of the writer’s strike of 2007, it never found its way off the ground and Spielberg left it shortly after. Sorkin has now taken upon himself to direct as this now counts as his second feature. His first being Molly’s Game.

I think it comes as no shock whatsoever to say that Sorkin’s writing is brilliant. His style of writing compliments whatever medium he is writing for and creates this rare tensity that’s created through the fast-paced delivery of said dialogue from the performers and the witty and sharp attention of detail embedded within that dialogue. Another example of this can be found in The Social Network, which is where he had also won his Oscar for back in 2011. This wouldn’t also be his first try at writing courtroom dramas as his credits also include A Few Good Men, which he had also adapted into a stage play or had at least tried to previously before writing the screenplay.

Beyond that, the ensemble is terrific. I don’t believe there is no performer that isn’t pulling their own weight or holding back anything. All of them from top to bottom - Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Rylance, Eddie Redmayne, Joseph Gordon Levitt - all relish and sink their teeth into these characters and all are given their own moments to shine individually throughout.

In comparison to the Sorkin’s previous directorial effort, The Trial Of The Chicago 7 shows the growth of a filmmaker and the quality has improved overall than what was in Molly’s Game, which I found to be sharply written and well-acted but lacking the energy and effort to keep myself engaged and invested and just became tiresome for myself. I’m happy to say that those issues aren’t present here however the one issue that I do believe the film holds is that it is only the growth of a filmmaker and not a core foundation for a director’s first well-rounded piece. Sorkin has completely mastered his craft as a writer as he has shown time and time again through his many other pieces of work. I do see that there is further growth needed for him as a filmmaker as some scenes do feel slightly lonesome and don’t have a distinct style to keep a consistent style present throughout the course of the story being told.

But that’s really the only issue I take with The Trial Of The Chicago 7. It’s sharply written, splendidly acted and shows the sights of what could possibly become one of the better storytellers of our time. The only thing Sorkin needs to prove this is just more time to hone in on his craft as a filmmaker as he is clearly a promising and rising star in this front.

Grade: A