The Trial Of Chicago 7 Review: 8 Ups & 2 Downs

1. It Probably Should've Been A Mini-Series

The other major issue with the film is one which is perhaps unavoidable in trying to lend a cinematic treatment to such a fascinating, multi-faceted story - certain elements have to fall by the wayside.

Because The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a 129-minute movie rather than an 8-hour mini-series, Sorkin has had to condense the particulars of the events down considerably.

And though he certainly does a fantastic job of being concise, the subplot involving Black Panther leader Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) feels especially, frustratingly curtailed.

Granted, Seale actually wasn't part of the titular seven and is only dragged into the courtroom to try and make the Seven seem "scarier" during the trial, but Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is so terrific in his small role that it would've been great to see more of his story dealt with here.

There are certainly other aspects of the story that feel a bit malnourished - particularly the efforts of the prosecution to influence the jury pool - but thankfully the overall feeling is of being left wanting more than Sorkin's film being fatally lacking.

These issues aside, then, here's why you absolutely must watch The Trial of the Chicago 7...