Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is arguably one of the most politically riveting films of recent times. Even though the crux of the story is set amidst the protests against drafting in the Vietnam War, the film has enough socio-political elements for viewers to draw parallels with the challenges of present-day democracy. The film's titular trial focuses on young activists who are 'targeted' to be punished in what seems like a 'political trial'.
With emotional moving performances by Sacha Baron Cohen, and Eddie Redmayne, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a worthy entry in the genre of political dramas and courtroom thrillers.
10 A Few Good Men
Rob Reiner's A Few Good Men is an intensely-written courtroom drama set in the world of Navy law. A lawyer is tasked with defending two men who killed a fellow Marine in a Naval Base. As the case deepens, the lawyer understands that their supervising officer, a brutal Colonel might too have a hand in this death.
Adapted by Aaron Sorkin from a play written by himself, the legal thriller raises several ideological questions towards its third act and exposes the extent to which those in power (the military in this case) can go to get their needs fulfilled. Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson deliver strong performances, standing for ideals that are polar opposites of each other.
9 Network
Network is an extremely hard-hitting satire on the media, that continues to be universally relatable to this day. The premise involves a veteran journalist who's fired from his channel. This enrages him to the point of ranting monologues and threatening to shoot himself, all on live television. This only benefits the channel with a rise in ratings and the aged anchor and his uncontrollable rage is only exploited further for the channel's villainous benefits.
Peter Finch's lead performance as Howard Beale and Paddy Chayefsky's satirically comic screenplay serves as a warning signal for controlling the ill-effects of extreme commercialization and the increasing influence of advertisers on present-day media.
8 12 Angry Men
Before Network, Sidney Lumet started his directorial career with the minimalist, dialogue-driven legal film 12 Angry Men. As evident from the film's title, it is set in a jury room with the entirety of the film showing perspectives of the 12 jurors. The jury assembles to discuss a homicide case, arriving at a quick consensus. However, one of them (Henry Fonda) prompts to assess their deduction again and be sure before their swift verdict.
For its time, the film was quite unconventional in style and was also very socially-conscious, highlighting how justice can be miscarried in a few cases.
7 Full Metal Jacket
While many youngsters protested against the American state, many volunteered proudly to serve in Vietnam. But was the war in Vietnam really necessary? Did drafting really change young Americans' lives? Such unsettling questions are touched upon in Full Metal Jacket, the anti-war drama by Stanley Kubrick.
Its first half presents a satirical yet dark picture of military training while the second half pits them in the heartland of the war, where their ground realities contrast sharply with the jingoism that drove them to war in the first place.
6 The Accused
After a woman faces the brunt of group sexual violence in a bar, she and her lawyer set out to seek justice against her rapists and the men who encouraged them. A hard-hitting drama, The Accused also goes in-depth to portray how society turns a blind eye towards the accused in such cases and more often than not, shame the victim for venturing at night or 'encouraging' attackers.
Kelly McGillis is in top form as the lawyer, while Jodie Foster steals the show in the lead role.
5 And Justice For All
And Justice For All finds Al Pacino at his overacting best, getting to deliver several energetic monologues in the courtroom. He plays a lawyer who's forced to defend a judge who's guilty in a rape case. The protagonist struggles with his own conscience knowing very well that his client is immoral and guilty. The dilemmas eat up his head to the point he starts losing his own sanity in his quest for justice.
It's a pretty unique film in the sense that lawyers defending the guilty often are portrayed in a caricaturish manner. Pacino's Arthur Kirkland, however, is a man fighting his own inner demons.
4 All The Presidents' Men
Richard Nixon's Presidency suffered a massive blow when the Watergate Scandal got exposed. While several films have touched upon unearthing the truth behind Watergate, All The President's Men perhaps acts as the most accurate and thrilling. Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford play journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, who were the first to bring the matter to public light while working for The Washington Post.
Steven Spielberg's The Post (2017) serves as a perfect companion film to this classic, for those interested in knowing the journalistic side of these turbulent times.
3 The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution
While legendary Black Panthers member Bobby Seale is a supporting character in The Trial of the Chicago 7, the film also slightly touches upon the false accuasations that Black Panthers faced and the staged assassination of Fred Hampton.
This gut-wrenching documentary attempts to piece together the rise of the Black Panthers Party in the 1960s, and its subsequent impact on the civil rights movement. The Black Panthers makes good use of archival footage and interviews with Party members as well as FBI officials, serving as a fitting tribute to a largely misunderstood group.
2 Born On The Fourth Of July
Having served in the Vietnam War himself, Oliver Stone has had a very critical and tragic view of the conflict. He has evoked this theme in three of his movies, including Born On The Fourth Of July. The film serves as a biopic for activist and veteran Ray Kovic (who also co-wrote the film's screenplay). Kovic proudly served his country in Vietnam but after losing his legs in combat, he starts seeing the futility of human sacrifices in unnecessary wars.
The film chronicles his journey from his time in the military to the traumatic aftermath to his rise as a pro-human rights leader. Tom Cruise gives a career-best performance in his stellar turn as Kovic.
1 Primal Fear
The film that drove Edward Norton to stardom serves as both a legal and a psychological thriller. Norton stars as a young altar boy accused of killing a priest. However, when a lawyer (Richard Gere) steps in to defend him, he understands the dark truth behind the dead priest's actual intentions.
Nerve-racking, well-acted, and thoroughly entertaining, Primal Fear overcomes its genre tropes by the slow yet satisfying unfolding of truth around Norton's ominous character.
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