Review: "The Trial of the Chicago 7" is a Defiantly Urgent Drama

Scene from The Trial of the Chicago 7

It has been some time since writer and director Aaron Sorkin has taken his audience inside a courtroom. While most of his films have pivotal scenes taking place in these judicial buildings, they have rarely been used for than a few minutes, allowing actors to chew through some meaty dialogue, As the Oscar-winning writer quickly proves, he's rarely better than when giving actors a chance to espouse their deepest desires, yelling to the masses in a hope that they will listen. It's the belief in The American Dream, that everyone deserves freedoms. A courtroom is the perfect setting for these ideas to be lobbed at each other, forming a tennis match of intensity that turns dialogue into its own action sequence. At his best, Sorkin grabs you and hypnotizes you into believing that whoever's talking is the most important person in the room.

He does that a lot with his latest The Trial of the Chicago 7, which finds a riot surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a hub for something grander. As people outside chant "The whole world's watching," there is this urgency for the legal system to recognize the change, the belief that The Vietnam War is unjust, and that the police are not as innocent as they claim. Whether intentionally or not, Sorkin feels like he's struck lightning this time around, finding several exceptional performances lobbying riveting language, mixing in small sways of humor, and action sequences that pull at the emotions. This is a story that feels urgent, reflecting the divide between the people and the government, and in 2020 it's rarely felt truer. It's another home run that never lets up, making the most complicated of legal jargon into something accessible. He hasn't been this much of a livewire since The Social Network, and he's finally come into his own as a director. Welcome back, Sorkin. We've missed you.

The First Trailer for "The Trial of the Chicago 7" Brings Sorkin to the Oscar Race

Scene from The Trial of the Chicago 7

If there is one thing that the year 2020 will be remembered for, it's that it was politically fraught. No matter what's going on right now, there's some division in America right now that is causing conversation, forcing citizens to ask what the merit of this country truly is. It makes sense then that Netflix's latest Oscar-contending film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, comes with urgency and exploration of these themes in vivid and entertaining fashion. The first trailer has been released and, along with a surprising mix of actors, it feels like an energetic molotov cocktail through the system, finding ways to discuss hard issues with such vigor and soul. It looks like a great way to shake up this fall, and one can hope that it delivers.

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Dunkirk" (2017)

Scene from Dunkirk (2017)

As awards seasons pick up, so do the campaigns to make your film have the best chances at the Best Picture race. However, like a drunken stupor, sometimes these efforts come off as trying too hard and leave behind a trailer of ridiculous flamboyance. Join me on every other Saturday for a highlight of the failed campaigns that make this season as much about prestige as it does about train wrecks. Come for the Harvey Weinstein comments and stay for the history. It's going to be a fun time as I explore cinema's rich history of attempting to matter.

Review: "Dunkirk" is the Greatest War Movie Since "Saving Private Ryan"

Tom Hardy

Director Christopher Nolan's latest Dunkirk opens on a bit of an intimate shot. As a group of English soldiers run towards safety, fliers fall from the sky. It's a threat from the Nazis that is made more difficult by the reality that they're on an island and an air strike would likely kill the 400,000 men like sitting ducks. There's desperation and uncertainty in the air as they finally approach that safety: a beach where the rest of the film will take place. The Nazis have made escape nigh impossible without a torpedo to the side of a ship. Much like Nolan's other films, there is a mystery at play. How do these men survive against an unseen enemy? By finally tackling a nonfiction story, Nolan has managed to centralize his tendencies as a director and delivered one of the most breathtaking, horrifying, and gorgeous cinematic experiences of the decade. It's a film that molds the war genre to Nolan's whim, and in the process makes something both reverential of classic cinema and a sign of a new horizon ahead. 

The First "Dunkirk" Trailer Sees Nolan Going Into a Mysterious War

Scene from Dunkirk

Whether or not Christopher Nolan's track record reflects it, he is one of those directors whose every film is worthy of Oscar buzz. Considering that he's only gotten one Best Picture nomination (Inception) in his lengthy career, this notion may not be entirely sound, but becomes clear when you understand what he's doing on a blockbuster level. He's often heady and creates cinema that is challenging while also being awe-inspiring and timeless. Not all of his films necessarily succeed at this, but even the problematic Interstellar has more than its fair share of moments. With his follow-up to the out of this world epic, he decides to go to war with Dunkirk. Today the first trailer dropped for the film, and it has everything that makes a Nolan teaser one of the best things to ever happen to trailers. 

Review: "The BFG" Brings Back the Spielberg Magic That We've Been Missing

Scene from The BFG

Everyone has that moment in their lives when they first discover the magic that is Steven Spielberg. For many, it was how terrifying the water was in Jaws; or how cloning dinosaurs in Jurassic Park was a bad idea. There's an unabashed amazement that comes with realizing the potential of cinema on a grand scale with the power to produce works that wouldn't seem fathomable on anything less. For kids of today, the magic of Spielberg may seem like a thing of the past, especially with back-to-back serious dramas like War Horse, Lincoln, and last year's excellent Bridge of Spies. However, the Spielberg that brought magic to family films is back with his take on Roald Dahl in The BFG. Lead by Mark Rylance and Ruby Barnhill, the fantasy adventure film may not be quite as captivating as the director's finest works, but it sure is a lot of fun while taking the viewer into a new and exciting landscape that only works because of Spielberg's assurance as a director, and we're all the more better for it.

10 Highlights from This Year's Academy Awards Ceremony

The four acting Oscar winners

With the ceremony behind us, it's time to remember everything that happened at this year's Academy Awards. For many, it marked one of the most exciting races in recent years. In fact, the year was not without some big surprises. For starters, the racially charged evening by host Chris Rock is likely to split many viewers. Even then, it's still great to know that this year wasn't the least bit dull. In the annual two part wrap-up, I will be recounting the highs and lows of the ceremony. In this article, I will be highlighting the positive, of which there's plenty to choose from.

The Trailer for Spielberg's "The BFG" Promises a Welcome Return to Kids Movies

Scene from The BFG

With the constant barrage of awards being announced in the weeks to come, it is likely that everyone is still thinking about director Steven Spielberg's impressive Cold War film Bridge of Spies. Among other things, it's an entertaining look into the attitudes of the era as well as the importance of understanding and humanity. However, the legendary director looks to remain busy with another film coming next year. It's the much touted adaptation of the Roald Dahl story "The BFG," which also features a script from the late E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial screenwriter Melissa Mathison; and is the director's first non-historical drama since 2011's The Adventures of Tintin. With the first trailer upon us, it's time to be expecting the friendlier Spielberg again. From the looks of it, it may very well be worth the wait.

Review: "Bridge of Spies" is Spielberg's Global Love Letter to Humanity in the Time of War

Tom Hanks

Over the course of 40 years, director Steven Spielberg has made a career out of chronicling the American way. From the government offices of Lincoln to the beaches of Jaws, he has found new ways to explore patriotism within the country's rich history - often in relation to big, awe-inspiring set pieces. In his latest film Bridge of Spies, he turns in a film that combines his sense for adventure with his maturing sense for drama in what can be described as Mr. Smith Goes to Berlin; a Cold War film in which James Donovan (Tom Hanks) fights for what's right, even as his patriotism turns him into a notorious figure among his fellow citizens. The film is a tale of humanity for the 21st century, turning Communism not into an evil; but a complicated web in which harmless individuals get stuck. Is it bad? Maybe a little. However, this film chooses to ask us why we shouldn't give them the justice they deserve.