Review of The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) by Healingtoolbox — 19 Oct 2020

Probably most MEANINGFUL film of 2020. Probably Best Picture 2020. For those too young to know, the first 20 minutes accurately expresses the vitality and energy of late 60s-early 70s Cultural Creatives. I was there. Sorkin began writing this in 2007. In 2020, a terrific amount of writerly thought and creativity is on-screen. No, not the best FABLE for 2020, that's The Island (2005) by Michael Bay and friends.

I cried at the final scene of "7." It brought back all the promise and heartbreak of failures-shortcomings of cultural progressives in the era. As filmed, the ending is more articulate and truthful than what actually happened. ScreenRant.com runs downs what was actually said by who when. The real facts remind me how inarticulate we were back then. The movie is more articulate than we were ourselves back then. Progressive Historian at UCI, Jon Weiner (JonWeiner.com) says the movie is inaccurate yet is truthful. Thank you, Jon. In the less favorable pro reviews here, I think what is missed is how much thought went into consciously MODULATING the actual personalities to permit greater contrast--and a greater sense of their unity--than was on display in real life. This is why Abbie Hoffman is downplayed and other character changes.

I want to congratulate Frank Langela and Mark Rylance for holding the movie down to the ground. Frank does wonderful villainy here without over-doing it. He truthfully portrays the "out of control" control-freak which characterized many officals of that era and today. Mark's integrity and self-confidence balances the just-finding-out-who-I-am of all the the younger characters. Wonderful to see Michael Keaton playing a good guy after so many recent villain roles, a small crucial part.