Saturday, March 1, 2008

by Ari

Brett Morgen's Chicago 10 is the first major film of 2008. This stylish, inventive documentary re-creates the trial of the anti-war protestors who lead thousands to demonstrate against the war in Vietnam at the '68 Democratic National Convention. The trial itself is re-staged using rotoscope-like computer animation which gives the events the feel of a political cartoon. It's intercut with archival footage of the demonstration and the chaos and violence that ensued.

There's no interviews in this documentary and no voice-over to explain what's happening. There doesn't need to be - everything speaks for itself. Morgan uses a lot of contemporary music to pump-up the audience as the trial and demonstration unfold, some of it is effective and some of it is too obvious. You get Rage Against the Machine and the Beastie Boys at some odd moments, but it doesn't really matter. The point of this film is to inspire the passion to rebel against the lies and repression and crimes of a dishonest government, and it succeeds with tremendous force. I saw it with a mostly older audience this morning (50 - 65 I'd say), people who were no doubt alive to experience this piece of American history in their youth, and there were cheers, yells and a lot of tears by the time the film concluded. It's out in limited release now (LA/NY), easily the most interesting and compelling movie in theaters right now.