The Trial Of The Chicago 7 Review

Celebrated writer Aaron Sorkin's sophomore effort as a director, The Trial Of The Chicago 7, is a perfectly paced courtroom drama filled with scintillating dialogue and intelligent characters. Sorkin's execution in telling a topical story about the trials stemming from protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago stays true to the narrative's non-fictional roots, managing to do so in a way that's cinematically refined. Characters are well established and believably over-the-top, while the progression of the film's events are handled with a clear sense of care. Sorkin knows when to dramatize a moment and let his script's brevity take over, successfully blending exciting tension and thoughtful humour often. The heightened flair throughout The Trial Of The Chicago 7 may disinterest some. Still, Sorkin's expansive knowledge of crafting engaging moments through stellar dialogue prevails far more than it punishes.

The Trial Of The Chicago 7 tells the story of seven protest organizers after they are charged with conspiracy to incite a riot. When what is planned to be an amicable protest transforms into a destructive clash against the police and National Guard at the 1968 Democratic National Convention— the trial launched against the seven organizers becomes one of the most notorious in United States history.

Despite the film's rich dialogue, much of the entertainment that is consistently produced is achieved by the array of believable performances given by the cast members, who play their roles with a careful balance of sincerity and comedic dexterity. The Trial Of The Chicago 7 showcases the polished and well-rounded filmmaking that should now be a standard for Sorkin, making it easy to forgive the rare moments of predictability.

Overall, the film is a potent and thoughtful dramatization that once again displays Sorkin's brilliance at cultivating eloquent and arresting scenes through well-crafted dialogue. The Trial Of The Chicago 7 is easily one of the more entertaining courtroom films in recent memory.

Sensational performances and an incredibly well-forged screenplay make The Trial Of The Chicago 7 an entertaining and memorable drama.

Produced By: Netflix
Runtime: 129 minutes
Rating: R