The Trial of the Chicago 7: A Violent Stroll Down Memory Lane (Netflix)

My oldest of my three sons (Ryan) was born in 1977, so even he wasn't alive in 1968 when the Chicago riots took place.  Picture this: It's 1968 and the Vietnam War is raging on.  Most people around my age (20, in my case) were very much against the war.  Peaceful protests were being planned in Chicago where the Democratic Convention was being held.  Celebrity anti-war activists were going to lead the protests.  Tom Hayden (Eddie Redmayne) and Rennie Davis (no relation – played by Alex Sharp) were in favor of peaceful protests, while Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Jerry Rubin (Jeremy Strong) were more inclined to wreak as much havoc as possible to try to disrupt what they considered to be a corrupt political system.  Unfortunately, violence broke out and the seven activists were later tried for conspiracy to incite violence on the streets.  Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateea II) was also tried, but as a separate defendant (a "dangling participle," so to speak).  The film primarily depicts what occured at the trial – if one could even call it a trial, considering what an unfair circus it was. Directed and written by Aaron Sorkin, the film has a great cast and a wonderful screenplay.  All the performances are outstanding, including  Prosecutor Richard Schultz (Joseph Gordon Levitt), the primary Defense Attorney William Kunstler (Mark Rylance), and Judge Julius Hoffman (Frank Langella). My youngest son (Noah – 21) thought it was "the movie of the year and it isn't close!"  Robin and I liked it, but neither of us were as emotionally-grabbed by it as we had anticipated.  Somehow, as perfect as everything was, it seemed a bit flat to us.  Maybe compared to how outraged we felt at the time, the feelings stirred up by the movie just weren't even close to what we felt back then. I wonder what kind of violence will break out after the election.  I think no matter who wins this November, there will be violence in the streets again, at multiple locations!  I sure hope it doesn't get out of hand.  Stay safe out there, everyone.