The Trial of the Chicago 7

This delicately written, acted and edited conversational movie about positive values and a bad system of power is surprising due to its rather banal and, for Sorkin, unexpectedly theatrical climax. For me, the highlight of the film remains the first long, one-shot scene in the courtroom, followed by static shots of those present standing at attention after the judge steps into the courtroom. (10/27/2020)

One of those films that's so elaborate it's simply a joy to watch, although there is “just" talking for two hours. The script is almost at the level of 12 Angry Men, and through a story from the 1960s it tells clearly enough about the present, the monologues and dialogues are refined, the tension rises only when someone is silent, or when someone interrupts someone's speech. Aaron Sorkin was able to write and shoot a great film, with a cast that has most importantly the perfect Sacha Baron Cohen and Mark Rylance, but the other actors are certainly good as well. It's also a big treat thanks to Daniel Pemberton's music. (10/18/2020)

What I will not lie to you, something has finally appeared on Netflix that is immediately shining in red numbers, it doesn't smell of flop, and it plays with the idea of being nominated for this year's Oscars. In addition, over three thousand people rated it here in less than a month, and superlatives were not spared here. I was quite looking forward to it. The result, however, is more or less average. The subject matter is strongly American. It took me a long time to understand what was actually happening in the movie. I, unaware of American history around 1968, had no idea how significant the trial in Chicago was. However, like the user Dzeyna or Enšpígl, I have a feeling that the American trial has already been filmed a thousand times better. However, the performances are clearly the movie's asset. Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, and Frank Langella shine here. Even that beautiful, typically Hollywood ending really appealed to me. But that's all. I expected better, much better. (11/08/2020)

The acting is so good, I'd gladly watch it all over again this minute. And amazingly its Cohen who carried it for me, despite the fact that I’m not exactly a fan. Whether he was joking or being serious, I totally believed that this is exactly the kind of person that existed back then. Having seen the whole thing, I rate the script as successful, but I guess I won't be the only one who wasn't hooked at first. Once the courtroom opened, the powerful, at times sad, at times funny trial began, with the aforementioned cast delivering a beautiful, at times heartbreaking, performance. Still, I feel that their performances could have been "pieced together" a little better for the viewer. A strong 4 stars. (08/28/2021)

"The whole world is watching." The Trial of the Chicago 7 benefits in particular from an excellent cast and a real-life story. Although the film is mostly set in a courtroom and consists mainly of courtroom dialogue, accusations, objections, testimony, etc., it does not come across as unnecessarily verbose and boring; on the contrary, it thrills through verbal shootouts and confrontations between the various characters, which it manages to do until the very end. Of the actors, Sacha Baron Cohen, Frank Langella, Mark Rylance and, in a smaller role, Michael Keaton were the best, but , the other actors also played their parts in a convincing manner. The film skillfully blends period footage with Aaron Sorkin's reconstruction of the actual case, and engagingly highlights the age-old struggle between ordinary honest people and a politically amoral system. (04/17/2021)