THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
US, 2020, 130 minutes, Colour.
Eddie Redmayne, Alex Sharp, Sasha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Mark Rylance, Joseph Gordon-Levitt?, Ben Shankman, J.C.Mc Kenzie, Frank Langella, Danny Flaherty, Noah Robbins, Kelvin Harrison Jr, John Doman, Michael Keaton, Caitlin Fitzgerald.
Directed by Aaron Sorkin.
July, August, September, 1968 were, in retrospect, tumultuous times. There had been student rights and protest at the Sorbonne, Paris. There were significant battles in the Vietnam war. There was the ill-feted Prague Spring. There was controversy in the Catholic Church with the issuing of the papal encyclical, Humanae Vitae. And there were protests in the United States, protests against the draft, the 1968 elections.
Some of the characters involved in the protests at the Democratic convention were significant figures of the time but have lived on in memory, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and the inclusion of Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers who spent only four hours in Chicago, sustained a false murder accusation against him in Connecticut, and was, for political reasons, included in the group who were indicted, The Chicago 7. Their long trial at the end of 1968, caused controversy – and became something of a pattern for protests in the ensuing years as well as political trials (think In the King of Prussia, the trial of Daniel Berrigan SJ and other protectors against nuclear armament – and who all appeared in the film version.)
This film has been written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. He is possibly best known for his creation of the television series, The West Wing. However, he was also responsible for such films as A Few Good Men, The Social Network, Moneyball, Molly’s Game, the series, The Newsroom and, on a lighter note, The American President. Clearly, these historical events are important for his historical American memory and evaluation.
The audience is invited to have sympathies for the protest leaders rather than for Mayor Daley of Chicago and his orders to forbid any protest, for the exercise of police brutality, for the status of the judge who is prone to bullying the defendants and their lawyers, prone to citing for contempt.
The major part of the screenplay is set in the court. However, the film introduces its theme with three symbolic talking heads, Lyndon Johnson on Vietnam and the draft, Martin Luther King and his vision (and his assassination), the hopes of Robert Kennedy (and his assassination) and close-ups of the exercise of the draft and its effect on the young men who are to go to Vietnam.
The screenplay also introduces the characters of the seven, brief sketches so that we know who each of the men is and something of their style (and appearances). Eddie Redmayne reminds us of his versatility and performance, playing the young Tom Hayden, with his friend Rennie Davis, played by Alex Sharp. Then there is the middle-aged conscientious objector, seen with his wife and his admiring young son, David Dellinger, played by John Carroll Lynch. There are two younger objectors who do not feature so strongly, played by John Froines and Lee Weiner. The two characters who stand out immediately are Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, long hair, hippie-style, Hoffman with a talent for wit and repartee, Rubin committed but a touch of the comic. It comes as quite a surprise to realise that Abbie Hoffman is being played by Sasha Baron Cohen, Rubin by the star of Succession, Jeremy Strong. Yahya Abdul Marteen II stands out as an impassioned Bobby Seale.
They are the seven. However, particularly striking are the performances of the judge and the lawyers. Frank Langella is absolutely convincing (and frequently obnoxious) as the presiding judge (whose dealing with the case is heavily criticised afterwards). Joseph Gordon Levitt is the suit and tie, always standing and buttoning his coat, counsel for the prosecution. Mark Rylance, less dapper, is the effective counsel for the defence. So much of the courtroom drama is in their hands.
There are scenes of the protests, a variety of flashbacks inserted throughout the film, groups demanding the right to protest, being denied, being attacked by the police, shields and batons and gas, to combat them.
In handling the case, the idea comes that the previous attorney general, Ramsey Clark, disliked by the Nixon attorney general, John Mitchell (who has to face his own legal challenges with Watergate) who had initiated the indictments, should testify in the case. His played by Michael Keaton, willing to testify, stating that investigation into the riots and protests indicated police brutality. (The judge will not allow the jury to hear this testimony.)
And so, a film of 2020, looking at divisive American past experience, released during the campaign for the 2020 presidential election. A great deal to interest, performances and dialogue to enjoy, and plenty to challenge.
1. Audience knowledge of the 1968 events, memories? 1968, the 1960s, change, rights and demonstrations around the world, the Vietnam war…? The influence of these events?
2. August 1968, significant moments in the Vietnam war, events in Prague, riots at the Sorbonne, the Catholic Church and Humanae Vitae? The American events?
3. The work of Aaron Sorkin, his insights, his writing, direction? The strong cast?
4. The introduction to the film and its tone, the quotes from Lyndon Baines Johnson about Vietnam war, the quotes from Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy, the atmosphere, the assassinations? The increase of troops in Vietnam? Visualising the impact of the draft?
5. Protests, groups, anti-war, the Black Panthers? Protests and action? The university campuses?
6. The election of Richard Nixon, John Mitchell as attorney general, his attitudes, his interview with the lawyers, his wanting an indictment? His hostility towards the previous attorney general, Ramsey Clark?
7. The Democratic Convention, held in Chicago, August in the summer, the planned protests, the stances of Mayor Daley, the instructions to the police, the refusal of permissions for protests? The events of the protest coming in flashbacks, the different individuals, the groups, the role of the police, the attacks, the gas, the batons? The injuries? The police and agents and their infiltration, informing on the protesters, their evidence during the trial?
8. Abbie Hoffman, his appearance, education, his perspectives, working with Jerry Rubin? And the insertion of his stand-up routine throughout the film and his comment on what happened?
9. The introduction to the Seven, Tom Hayden and Rennie Davis? Students, the academic background? Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, the hippy protest? David Dellinger, respectable, conscientious objector, seen at home, his wife, the ideals for his son? Lee Weiner, John Froines and their protest and inclusion in the seven?
10. Bobby Seale, the Black Panthers, their status in American society, political views, racial views? Bobby Seale and the accusation of murder? As spending only a few hours in Chicago, the decision to include him in the group, his lawyer being ill, his not having a lawyer, his getting advice from Fred, Fred and his being murdered? The issue of the lawyer, the judge’s insistence, William Kunstler and his stepping back, Seale and his interventions, his being told to be quiet?
11. The drama with the highlights of the trial, the indication of the days? The group seen outside, at their headquarters, the discussions, the phone calls? The secretary?
12. Richard Shultz, the initial interview with Mitchell, with his associate? Their appearance in the court? Suits, buttoning up? Proper? His personal views, his applications of the law? The cross-examination is? Meeting Abbie Hoffman in the park, with his daughters? His tactics, his response to the judge? The final stance with the list of the Vietnam dead, his standing, his associate walking out?
13. The judge, audience hostility towards him and his behaviour? His manner, his interventions, citing for contempt, overruling objections, getting names wrong? His attitude towards Bobby Seale, removing him from the court – and the torture sequences and his being gagged? Ramsey Clark, his testimony, the judge forbidding the jury to hear it? Issues of justice and injustice? Tom Hayden standing for him then sitting, his being allowed to make the final speech, his reading of Rennie Davis’s list?
14. William Kunstler, the law, defence, his personality, his associate and interventions? Cross examinations, protesting against the judge, cited for contempt? His skills? Outside the court, challenges and tactics for the defendants? The idea to bring Ramsey Clark into the court?
15. The group, personalities, different perspectives, outside the court? Rennie and his list, Tom Hayden and his education, the protest in the park, the attack on Rennie, his bleeding? Tom Hayden and his blood speech in the park, its being taped, played in court, the blame? The contrast with Abbie Hoffman and the background, his look, the costumes in the court? The argument with Hayden? Jerry Rubin, personality, the approach of the agent, his infatuation with her, her participation and advice? In the court?
16. David Dellinger, conscientious objector, being careful, his stances, with the others, at the demonstrations, his not wanting security to touch him, his outburst and punching the officer?
17. The jury, the threats to the juror and her family, being dismissed?
18. The office, the secretary, the phone calls, the threats?
19. The buildup to the clash between Hayden and Hoffman, the different ideologies?
20. Ramsey Clark, the visit to his house, Mitchell representatives present, issues of law, the attorney general and his role with the president, his giving testimony, about the police
and bashings, the judge forbidding his testimony?
21. The aftermath, the information about the various individuals, careers, Hayden in politics, Jerry Rubin as a stockbroker, Abbie Hoffman and suicide?
22. The harsh judgements about the behaviour of the judge?
23. The influences of the events, the characters, the judgements on future protests and demonstrations in the US?
