The Trial of the Chicago 7 - 6 nominations

Best Motion Picture of the Year Marc Platt (producer)  Stuart M. Besser (as Stuart Besser) (producer)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Sacha Baron Cohen

Best Original Screenplay - Aaron Sorkin (written by)

Best Achievement in Film Editing - Alan Baumgarten

Best Achievement in Cinematography - Phedon Papamichael

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song) Celeste (as Celeste Waite) (lyric by)  Daniel Pemberton (music by/lyric by)  For song "Hear My Voice"

Possibly the most relevant of the Best Picture nominees, The Trial of the Chicago 7 asks today's questions about how to make change, can violence be justified, can words incite people, are ideas dangerous, and what is the best way to channel rage into social justice.  It is inspired by true events wherein 8 defendants - Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin (of the Yippies), David Dellinger and Tom Hayden (Students for a Democratic Society), Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner (National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam), and Bobby Seale (Black Panthers) - were charged with conspiracy to cross state lines to incite a riot. The presiding Judge Hoffman conducted himself anything but impartially (see, not just this film but historical records) and had all of his substantive decisions in the case overturned by the Seventh Circuit.   Seale was notably barely involved with the protests, was denied the right to act as his own attorney, and refused a continuance to wait until his post-surgery lawyer was able to appear before the courts - eventually Judge Hoffman released Seale from the case.

I would hardly call myself a historian, but I learned so much from this film, enough to want to do additional research about the real trial of the 7.  There is so much more to know, but the editing back and forth between the trial and the events of the day make for a very very compelling film (and this is the first time in the history of this blog that I've used "very" twice.). Of course the performances are magnificent, this film assembles some of the finest actors of the day.  I don't know if anyone else has a visceral reaction to Borat as Abbie Hoffman, but it's a dazzling portrayal.

But this film is meant to be so much more than a movie.  It is intended to be mirror for what is happening in our world now.  We are meant to be judge and jury of what we do today, of the opinions we hold now, of the way we view and talk and scream and protest those who disagree with us, even those who appear to be on "our side."  Don't watch this film as historical fiction, that would make it just another fantastic Sorkin production that's finished when the movie concludes.  Watch this film as historical teacher, and decide which part you want to play in making social change.

Listen to the nominated song, "Hear My Voice" here.

Watch the trailer here.