Screenmancer’s Best Picture is The TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7

by Screenmancer Staff

We were late to view THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 from Netflix, the political party powerhouse picture penned by Aaron Sorkin, but we will not overlook the reality that it is Best Picture of the Year.

We loved MANK, also a Netflix project which displays the craftsmanship and hallmarks of a studio picture from days gone by, and NOMADLAND is certainly a frontrunner-up as well. Including MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM for the tour de force performances led by indelible Viola Davis…

But in the end?

TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 is the movie for now, for America, and the rest of the world, in the unrest we have been living in. That includes a virus, riots, uprisings, SWAT, election fallout, wild fires, border crossings, and betrayals by those who call for lockdowns, such as a government officials eating out mask-less at 5-star dining establishments such as The French Laundry.

That means you, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is now in a resounding recall the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the Glory Days of political actions like the one depicted in this movie from the late 1960’s.

Aaron Sorkin, who can school even established writers on writing, wrote and also directs this monster. (This is a benchmark directorial outing that builds on his spectacular debut with MOLLY’S GAME.)

Even without a traditional box office total to judge it by, TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 will make its mark in Hollywood history come Oscar time.

Since the Pandemic has shuttered movie houses, totals are awry and yet those numbers are almost moot for streamers like Netflix anyway.

The point is that this movie hits an emotional chord for audiences young and elder, woke and un-woke across so many demographics, because it is raw, searing, and strident in the face of hypocrisy for our world in turmoil.

Eddie Redmayne as activist Tom Hayden is flawless, just pitch-perfect as the internally conflicted future ex-husband of Jane Fonda he portrays.

Sacha Baron Cohen fulfills all the insane promise of his relentless talent, in a star turn that burns a hole in the red carpet for him in Hollywood history. Cohen was a serial comic named Borat, who went full-on dramatic and as serious as a gold statuette as Abbie Hoffman.

Visit THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 here.

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