COVID-19 Special: 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' (15)

Director: Aaron Sorkin

Cast: Eddie Redmayne. Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Rylance, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Where can I watch?: The Trial of the Chicago 7 is streaming on Netflix

Rating: 4/5

Review: I'll get something off my chest straight away: I'm something of an Aaron Sorkin fangirl. As a young'un, I was subjected to VHS re-runs of The West Wing, something that I initially rolled my eyes at but soon came to rather enjoy (President Bartlett for life, am I right?). As a would-be-wish-I-could writer, Sorkin's command of dialogue and interpersonal relationships always struck me, so seeing his name attached to this true story immediately appealed to me. Taking the director's helm for a second time, Sorkin unites an all-star ensemble cast in this poignant, oft-infuriating retelling of the court case surrounding the Chicago Seven. Playing with the timeline to reveal the actual events of the night of the 1968 riot, Sorkin expertly crafts a quick-witted, gripping and, at times, humorous film. Donning wigs of varying credibility (what is that on Mark Rylance's head?) and tackling a broad range of accents with different degrees of success, the large cast takes on the multi-faceted script with gusto, even when the story strains to weave in a reconciliation between activists Tom Hayden (Eddie Redmayne) and Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen). There are some genuinely shocking moments too, such as the attempted rape of a female protestor, and the abhorrent violent treatment of the unpresented Black Panther member Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). It could definitely be argued that the portrayal of the Black struggle is overlooked in favour of the White story, but I would suggest that the racial element could not be dealt with as effectively as it needs to be when viewed in the context of the overall trial, which is clearly Sorkin's main focus. As it stands, we're reminded yet again how little America has changed in terms of how Black citizens are viewed in the eyes of the law.

A COVID-19 Must-Watch?: Dodgy wigs and accents that take a tour of the known world aside, there's much to enjoy in Sorkin's courtroom romp. Peppered with the acerbic wit synonymous with the writer, and performed by a likeable, engaging cast, this fast-paced, twisty-turny drama makes for fun and informative viewing.

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