It's been a terrific awards season for Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7, which has earned two Golden Globe and one Critics Choice prizes so far.
Now it's been nominated for six Academy Awards in the following categories:
• Best Picture
• Actor in a Supporting Role: Sacha Baron Cohen
• Original Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin
• Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael
• Film Editing: Alan Baumgarten
• Original Song: "Hear My Voice"
"The crowd chanted, 'The whole world is watching' then, and now it is."
While we criticized Chicago 7 for being heavy-handed and noted that other lesser-known movies have done as good or better jobs at telling the complicated story of how police attacked protesters at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968, which led to the famous trial, Sorkin's movie (streaming on Netflix) has a far greater reach than the others and is being hailed by the industry. The crowd chanted, "The whole world is watching" then, and now it is.
Cohen's portrayal of Abbie Hoffman has already earned him a Golden Globe. He inhabits Hoffman, the court jester of the Yippies, the group that organized the protests.
Most likely, Sorkin will get another screenplay award (he won at the Globes) and that will be it for the film. But what a run. It's important that this slice of counterculture history is told, no matter from what point of view.
Two musicals with drug content also received Oscar noms:
• Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Actress in a Leading Role: Viola Davis; Actor in a Leading Role: Chadwick Boseman; Costume Design; and Makeup and Hairstyling
• The United States vs. Billie Holiday: Actress in a Leading Role: Andra Day
The 2021 Academy Awards will be announced on April 15 on ABC. Check out all the nominees here.
