Netflix Friday - Volume 38

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: Escape Plan (2013)
When a structural-security authority (Sylvester Stallone) finds himself set up and incarcerated in the world’s most secret and secure prison, he has to use his skills to escape with help from the inside.
 

Drama: A Sun (2019)
A family of four fractures under the weight of unmet expectations, unexpected tragedy, and uncompromising pride.
 

Comedy: Coming to America (1988)
An extremely pampered African Prince travels to Queens, New York, and goes undercover to find a wife that can he can respect for her intelligence and will.
 

Animation: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
A wild stallion is captured by humans and slowly loses the will to resist training, yet, throughout his struggle for freedom, the stallion refuses to let go of the hope of one day returning to his home herd.
 

Romance: My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
When a woman’s (Julia Roberts) long-time friend (Dermot Mulroney) reveals he’s engaged, she realizes she loves him herself and sets out to get him, with only a few days before the wedding.
 

Horror: The Witch (2015)
A family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic, and possession.
 

Science Fiction: Godzilla (2014)
The world is beset by the appearance of monstrous creatures, but one of them may be the only one who can save humanity.
 

Crime: The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
The tory of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1986 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
 

Thriller: The Interpreter (2005)
Political intrigue and deception unfold inside the United Nations, where a U.S. Secret Service agent (Sean Penn) is assigned to investigate an interpreter (Nicole Kidman) who overhears an assassination plot.
 

Documentary: The Mind Explained (2019)
Ever wonder what’s happening inside your head? From dreaming to anxiety disorders, discover how your brain works with this illuminating series.
 

Family: The Flintstones (1994)
In a parallel modern-day Stone Age world, a working-class family, the Flintstones, are set up for an executive job. But they learn that money can’t buy happiness.

Movie Review - The Trial of the Chicago 7

Director: Aaron Sorkin
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Sacha Baron Coehn, Eddie Redmayne, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance, Ben Shekman, J.C. MacKenzie, Frank Langella, Michael Keaton

Description: The story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Review: Director Aaron Sorkin wrote the script for “The Trial of the Chicago 7” as early as 2007, but due to the writers’ strike in 2008 the film was cancelled at the time. The fact that the project has now been revived undoubtedly has to do with the spirit of the times. The years 2016 to 2020 have brought back the sixties and seventies, with all their public protest and blurring of political norms. So it’s not a bad idea to translate the important stories of that tie to the big screen. Steven Spielberg did this earlier with “The Post”, which zoomed in on the publication of the Pentagon Papers and thus advocated bold journalism to keep politics in check. “The Trial of the Chicago 7” takes a similar approach. And although the filming took place a year ago, the past months of civil protests and excessive police violence have only made the story more topical.
The so-called Chicago 7 are the leaders of various organizations that travelled to Chicago during the Democratic Convention of 1968 to protest against the Vietnam War. Although this protest was meant to be peaceful, it degenerated into a situation in which activists clashed with the police. They are prosecuted, with the accusation of conspiracy on the table. A rather bizarre accusation, since these people hardly knew each other before they arrived in Chicago. But then again, this is not a well-founded lawsuit conducted for the public interest. This is the newly formed Nixon government that will teach those ‘know-it-all hippies a lesson.  
The intriguing thing about the lawsuit is that the defendants represent totally different organizations and in some ways have a very different way of life, even though they were pursuing the same goal with their protest. During the trial, however, the public prosecutor brings them all together, whether they like it or not. However, there differences in attitude to life mean that not everyone wants to conduct the trial in the same way. Some simply want to prove their innocence, while others see the trial as a good opportunity to publicly make the point they travelled to Chicago for at the time. Sorkin wisely does not take sides in this. It is up to the viewer to decided which is the most appropriate way of protest.
“The Trial od the Chicago 7” is probably one of the purest courtroom dramas ever created. For the most part, the film is set in the courtroom and only shows the story in flashbacks when the details are discussed in the trial. This happened mainly with witness statements, in which there is often a jumping back and forth between different angles.
What makes “The Trial of the Chicago 7”especially worth watching is the impressive line-up of actors that Sorkin has at his disposal. It might not be a real star cast, but it’s one of the strongest ensemble casts we will see this year. Mark Rylance is perfectly cast as a passionate and pragmatic lawyer, Frank Langella puts down a deliciously hating judge and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is allowed to elevate the role of prosecutor to something more human than what is usual in courtroom movies. And while is may seem somewhat lazy to present Eddie Redmayne as a good student and Sacha Baron Cohen as a transverse hippie, as idealistic opposites they end up surprising the most. Their acting duel towards the end is a true highlight.
Overall, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is a really strong film, with a story set in the past is stull topical today. Especially today.

Rating: 3,5 / 5