The Trial of the Chicago 7

THE GIST: It's the summer of 1968, and the nation is on edge, torn apart by the Vietnam war and the civil rights battles. Peaceful demonstrations can easily turn violent, and during one such riot seven people (plus a Black man) are arrested and put on trial on what looks like drummed up charges.

Nominated for six Academy Awards, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is writer-director Aaron Sorkin's brainchild through and through, imbued as it is with his trademark style of interconnected and rapid-fire dialogue.

The cast is really extraordinary, especially Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Mark Rylance, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Frank Langella.

It is astounding to see how egregiously the government went after these people simply for political reasons, aided by a judge who should have been removed from the courtroom and never given that kind of power over any defendant ever again.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A fast-moving drama about a very interesting chapter of American history. Well written and acted as well.

Grade: 8