The Trial of the Chicago 7

The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a 2020 American legal drama film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. The film follows the Chicago Seven, a group of anti-Vietnam War protesters charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intention of inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. It features an ensemble cast that includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Daniel Flaherty, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Noah Robbins, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, and Jeremy Strong.

Plot
The film is based on the infamous 1969 trial of seven defendants charged by the federal government with conspiracy and more, arising from the countercultural protests in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The trial transfixed the nation and sparked a conversation about mayhem intended to undermine the U.S. government.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) The performances from the cast is Oscar-worthy and impeccable.
 * 2) Great direction by Aaron Sorkin which is even better than his previous directed film Molly's Game.
 * 3) Great cinematography by Phedon Papamichael as expected.
 * 4) The screenplay is well written by Aaron Sorkin as always.
 * 5) The pacing is well done.
 * 6) Daniel Pemberton's musical score is absolute perfection.
 * 7) "There’s no place to be right now but in it."

Reception
The Trial of the Chicago 7 received positive reviews from critics and audiences, who praised the the acting (particularly by Baron Cohen, Adbul-Mateen, and Redmayne), Sorkin's script, and the modern parallels to the 1960s. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 91% based on 43 reviews, with an average rating of 7.95/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "An actors' showcase enlivened by its topical fact-based story, The Trial of the Chicago 7 plays squarely -- and compellingly -- to Aaron Sorkin's strengths.". On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 based on 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". On IMDb, the film has 8.7/10 score.