A Few Good Men | Geekscape

Geekscape Movie Review: The Trial of the Chicago 7

by MCDaveOctober 17, 2020

History has a way of repeating itself. And with his second directorial effort, Academy Award Winning screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network), transports us back in time to 1968, during the pinnacle of Vietnam protests where demonstrators and law enforcement clashed in an eruption of violence that mirrors the recorded imagery of present-day America. People were divided, political animosity had reached a boiling point, and a pivotal election was on the horizon. Ultimately, it was the result of that bitter 1968 election which set the stage for Sorkin’s latest film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, one that he demanded to be released by its distributor prior to election day 2020, with the hopes that maybe this time around history won’t repeat itself.

The Chicago 7 opens with a montage of footage regarding the assassinations of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy over a mere two-month span. Advocates for peace were being buried with bullet holes in their head, leaving anti-war groups with little hope that a non-violent approach would enact change and end the bloodshed abroad. Protest leaders like Tom Hayden (Eddie Redmayne), Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen), Jerry Rubin (Jeremy Strong) and David Dellinger (John Carroll Lynch) attempted to obtain permits for peaceful protests in Lincoln Park, but were denied by the city’s mayor. After many days of protesting that included multiple violent encounters between law enforcement and protesters, disarray surrounding the Democratic party resulted in a loss of the election. Five months later, after Nixon took office as President of the United States, the surprising arrest of these protest organizers on federal charges of crossing state lines to incite violence sparked a controversial, months-long trial that placed the usage of America’s judicial system as a tool for political warfare under the public microscope.

The true story behind this iconic moment in United States history is unavoidably complex and detailed. Yet, the living wordsmith Aaron Sorkin delivers such a sleek and crisp script that unveils key components of these event in a purposeful and periodic non-chronological manner. Sorkin wastes very little time placing the audience inside the courtroom, where a majority of the film occurs and a setting that is a true comfort zone for the writer-director. And while The Chicago 7 never quite reaches the same heights as Sorkin’s legendary 1992 screenplay for A Few Good Men, there is still plenty to appreciate in this newest work. Humor and heaviness do a delicate dance between the pages of this script. The silliness of Sacha Baron Cohen’s and Jeremy Strong’s hippie figureheads make for exceptional comic relief when it’s so desperately needed. However, their hilarious quips and antics clearly take the backseat to a more serious and ominous tone that addresses themes of racism, politicizing our criminal justice system and violence at the hands of law enforcement.

The Chicago 7 is not only a brilliantly-penned screenplay, Sorkin also steps-up his game behind the camera as the direction here represents a stark and noticeable improvement over his debut film, Molly’s Game. Furthermore, it would be a grave injustice to avoid mentioning this star-studded cast and the outstanding onscreen performances given by this ensemble. Outside of the stellar and obvious lead performances from Redmayne, Strong and Sacha Baron Cohen, Oscar Winner Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies) brings to life such a noble and naïve character as defense attorney William Kunstler, and Frank Langella will crawl under your skin as Judge Julius Hoffman, an unfair ruler of law. These performances, in conjunction with Sorkin’s writing, create a handful of unforgettable onscreen moments. Yet, the constant busyness of having to provide an abundance of details occasionally leaves the film feeling flat in between these masterful scenes. The Chicago 7 may not be Sorkin at his best, but Sorkin not at his best is still extremely worthwhile. You can catch this bona fide Best Picture contender streaming on Netflix right now.

Stars: 4/5

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Molly’s Game

by MCDaveDecember 25, 2017

Most successful individuals must work or train tirelessly to hone their craft, devoting a lifetime to reaching the pinnacles of their professions. Yet, somehow Aaron Sorkin appears to circumvent the norm with his seemingly effortless skills that have transformed the screenwriter and playwright into an Oscar-winning titan of the industry. Sorkin’s rare mastery of rapid dialogue interspersed with comedic undertones are staples in cinematic achievements such as A Few Good Men, The Social Network, Moneyball and countless others. But now Sorkin feels ready to embrace the next major challenge in his life, as the prestigious writer tackles his directorial debut with the unbelievable true story behind his new film, Molly’s Game.

After a crushing defeat ends the Olympic dreams of young skiing sensation Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), she ventures to California for a sunny retreat from intense training and a stressful upbringing at the behest of her father (Kevin Costner). While on the west coast, a series of odd jobs somehow navigates Molly into the underworld of high-stakes poker headlined by actors, athletes, politicians and all other kinds of celebrities. But as Molly’s thirst for expensive taste and her desperation to stay a part of the action crosses the line of legality, she’s forced to beg attorney Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba) for his counsel after the U.S. government presses serious charges and confiscate all of her finances.

If you’re a fan of Aaron Sorkin’s past work, his trademark style is on full display once again in Molly’s Game. Told through a non-chronological approach, the audience is given a thorough glance into the mindset of a remarkably gifted woman who trades her intellectual and physical strengths for a dark and exhausting life of underground gambling. Molly is at the forefront of nearly every scene, paving the way for Jessica Chastain to grow an audacious and compelling character. Despite Molly’s crazy life story that manages to stay engaging even through a lofty 140-minute affair, Chastain’s performance is strong but not transcendent. Her work rings familiar to another recent turn Chastain delivered in John Madden’s Miss Sloane, and the similarities sour the experience a bit. Idris Elba and Kevin Costner provide stellar supporting performances as well, but the largest issue with Molly’s Game is the film’s inability to elevate the stakes. The story feels grossly repetitious at times and its dramatic conclusion is regrettably flat. However, Sorkin’s usage of heavy dialogue is executed to his typical standards, keeping a comfortable beat and tempo that’s constantly moving and never bores. Molly’s Game is a decent effort and a fine directorial debut for Sorkin despite the movie’s lack of necessary escalation.

GRADE: 3/5

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: American Sniper

by MCDaveJanuary 14, 2015

Every year a few prestigious titles hold off their general release until the last possible moment. Although most viewers won’t be seeing Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper until 2015 (me included), a late-December limited release in the Los Angeles and New York City markets only qualified the film for the upcoming Academy Awards in February. The reason for this is simple, many people believe there’s a strategic advantage to being the freshest movie in a voting member’s mind. And while no one will really know the impact until Oscar Nominations are handed out on Thursday, January 15th, the fact remains that American Sniper is a well-earned return to form for Eastwood.

Bradley Cooper stars as the war hero and patriot, Chris Kyle. After a stagnant life in the Texas rodeo prompted the 30 year old to join the Navy Seals and defend his country, Chris Kyle was deployed to Iraq where he collected more than 150 recorded sniper kills. But rather than the enormous number of Iraqi insurgents he murdered with pinpoint accuracy in order to protect his fellow officers, Chris was most haunted by all the American casualties he failed to save.

It’s an undeniable truth, war desensitizes you. But what can prepare someone for pinning the Navy Seal emblem on their chest and becoming a trained assassin in an endless war? Bradley Cooper gives his most valiant attempt at understanding such a person as he lives, breathes and transforms himself into Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in American history. Cooper’s immensely dedicated performance is both cold and selfless all at the same time. I watched an interesting interview where Chris Kyle described the barrier between the typical American lifestyle and the battlefield. Much like Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, Chris spoke about the every-day civilian’s inability to process what goes on in a war zone. We could never really understand unless we experienced it, and perhaps that’s what makes Cooper’s performance so golden. He peels the layers of a character devoted to his country and guilt ridden while state-side in between tours, but aware of the war’s crippling impact on his family life. This multi-dimensional story is brilliantly captured by Clint Eastwood, a director I’ve openly criticized after a lengthy decline in his quality of work. But much like a tough-love superior officer, I only offered my negative remarks towards Eastwood because of his illustrious history as a filmmaker. After the disappointing adapted musical, Jersey Boys, it was fair to say that Eastwood was capable of better. And with the upcoming general release of American Sniper, we’re given a refreshing taste of his prior greatness.

Although American Sniper is a successful and tense action-drama, the feature suffers from a few detractors. Like many other recently adapted films, the source material is so expansive that it becomes impossible to transfer every aspect of the book to the big screen. Eastwood places the main focus on Chris Kyle’s time in Iraq and, as a result, cuts a great deal of the Navy Seal’s home life out of the script. Personally, I’m a fan of substance and story, so I would have gladly traded a majority of the constant gun fire and battlefield footage for a deeper insight into his personal life. Furthermore, some of the war-time scenes feel slightly unrealistic. Although a service member friend of mine assured me of more accuracy than I’d expect, witnessing Chris Kyle’s personal phone calls to home while out on important assignments seemed both irresponsible and highly fabricated. However, an Oscar-worthy performance from Bradley Cooper and detailed direction from Clint Eastwood clearly overshadow the film’s weaknesses.

With American Sniper you should expect a long-winded and slow-burning affair, regular staples in any Eastwood film. The repetitious cat-and-mouse struggle between Chris Kyle and a lethal Syrian sniper definitely over-extends itself as well. Yet, long after the credits roll, Bradley Cooper’s towering portrayal of a complex national hero will not be forgotten. The same goes for Chris Kyle’s unselfish service to our country.

GRADE: 4/5

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