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Sorkin’s new film promises to be a thrilling legal drama
Lanz Aaron G. Tan (The Philippine Star) – October 8, 2020 – 12:00 am
Trailer Review: The Chicago 7 Trial
“The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!”
Outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention, a sprawling crowd protesting the Vietnam War chanted that line tirelessly in front of countless television cameras capturing rampant police brutality on the streets of Chicago. That line also forms the backbone of the trailer for Aaron Sorkin’s latest film, The Chicago 7 Trial, which sets a breathless pace in what promises to be a thrilling legal drama.
To say that writer-director Sorkin is a celebrity in Hollywood circles is an understatement. The famed scribe has written scripts for prestigious films for nearly 30 years, from A Few Good Men to The Social Network (the latter of which is currently airing on Netflix), and has seven Golden Globe nominations (with two wins) and three Academy Awards. nominations (with a win) to prove it. His directorial debut in a feature film, Molly’s Game, demonstrated his diverse talents in a film that kept pace with his famous cerebral and fast dialogue. Sorkin’s latest directorial adventure, The Trial of the Chicago 7, released its first trailer on September 14.
Sorkin’s trailer confidently travels behind well-established talents, flaunting an all-star cast that includes Sacha Baron Cohen (in a rare dramatic appearance), Joseph Gordon Levitt, Michael Keaton, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance and the newcomer. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Also behind the camera is Academy-nominated director of photography Phedon Papamichael (Ford v Ferrari, Nebraska, Sideways). Illuminate courtroom scenes with dramatic depth, using soft backlighting, fill light from a window to highlight facial expressions, and smoke for easy focus. These well-composed shots are in stark contrast to the harsh images of the nighttime protests, with powerful background lighting and a handheld camera, adding a degree of documentary realism to the image.
The trailer ends on a chilling note with a line from Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen): “I’ve never been judged for my thoughts before.”
In light of recent protests like the Black Lives Matter movement in the US and public clamor for controversial legislation here in the Philippines, Sorkin’s latest film promises to be a timely meditation on what constitutes the fine line between what is acceptable and what goes too far. in the mediation of freedom of expression.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 will be released digitally on Netflix on October 16.
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