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The Trial of the Chicago 7 2020
DramaLegal dramaPolitical drama
The Trial of the Chicago Seven is a 2020 American historical legal drama film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. The story centers on 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 National Convention in Chicago. The film includes an ensemble cast featuring 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, Ben Shenkman, and Jeremy Strong.
Sorkin wrote the screenplay in 2007, originally planning for Steven Spielberg to direct the film and cast mostly unknown actors. After the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike and budget issues caused Spielberg to step away as director, Sorkin took over direction in October 2018. Most of the cast joined the same month, with Spielberg remaining as executive producer. Principal photography occurred during the fall of 2019 in Chicago and surrounding New Jersey areas.
Originally scheduled for a theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, the distribution rights were transferred to Netflix because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trial of the Chicago Seven was shown in select theaters on September 25, 2020 and began streaming digitally on Netflix on October 16. Critics responded positively, praising performances—especially from Baron Cohen—the screenplay by Sorkin, cinematography, editing, and its contemporary relevance to the 1960s. The film received six nominations at the 93rd Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Baron Cohen. It also earned five Golden Globe nominations (winning for Best Screenplay), three Screen Actors Guild Awards (winning Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture), and three British Academy Film Awards.
Cast
- Eddie RedmayneTom Hayden
- Sacha Baron CohenAbbie Hoffman
- Alex SharpRennie Davis
- Jeremy StrongJerry Rubin
- John Carroll LynchDavid Dellinger
- Noah RobbinsLee Weiner
- Daniel FlahertyJohn Froines
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen IIBobby Seale
- Mark RylanceWilliam Kunstler
- Joseph Gordon-LevittRichard Schultz
- Ben ShenkmanLeonard Weinglass
- J. C. MacKenzieTom Foran
- Frank LangellaJudge Julius Hoffman
- Kelvin Harrison Jr.Fred Hampton
- Michael KeatonRamsey Clark
- John Doman[[John N
- Wayne DuvallPaul DeLuca
- Caitlin FitzGeraldDaphne O'Connor
- Max AdlerOfficer Stan Wojohowski and Sergeant Scott Scibelli
- Damian YoungHoward Ackerman
- Alice KremelbergBernardine Dohrn
- Alan MetoskieAllen Ginsberg
Crew
- Director
- Aaron Sorkin
- Writer
- Aaron Sorkin
- Producer
- Stuart M. Besser, Matt Jackson, Marc Platt, Tyler Thompson
- Cinematography
- Phedon Papamichael
- Editing
- Alan Baumgarten
- Music
- Daniel Pemberton
Details
- Production
- Cross Creek Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Marc Platt Productions, Republic Pictures (International; through Paramount Pictures), ShivHans Pictures
- Distributor
- Netflix
- Budget
- $35 million
- Box office
- $116,473
