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

7. Mark Rylance, Frank Langella & Sacha Baron Cohen Steal The Show

The film undeniably boasts one of the year's most impressive ensemble casts - which we'll get to shortly - but it's first important to mention the three clear stand-outs among the cast.

Mark Rylance, who can always be relied upon to play a sturdy pillar of integrity, is terrific as the Seven's wise defense lawyer William Kunstler, who over the course of the film transforms from restrained and respectful to fire-spitting when the time calls for it.

Frank Langella also gives his best performance in years as the case's dubiously competent judge Julius Hoffman, yet rather than make such a ridicule-worthy figure a mere caricature, he brings scarce human believability to a deeply frustrating man.

But most of the chatter - and indeed, the awards buzz - will be around Sacha Baron Cohen, who frequently steals scenes as the back-talking motormouth defendant Abbie Hoffman.

Though serving somewhat as the film's comic relief, it's still a very different role for Cohen, and one he executes with serious dramatic aplomb. Consider him a major Best Supporting Actor contender moving forward.