Speaking of the superb actor Jeffrey Wright (as I was last week), here’s something else to look forward to:
Brett Morgen’s documentary film “Chicago 10” opens in limited release on February 29. It includes animated re-creations of the notorious Chicago Seven trial (originally the Chicago Eight), based on actual court transcripts.
Jeffrey Wright provides the voice of Black Panther Bobby Seale. Embedded above is a 1-minute clip from the movie (with Roy Scheider as Judge Julius Hoffman). To view the official trailer, follow this link.
I've always been facinated by this trial and have long since been interested in Abbie Hoffman, I just find him to be an interesting figure. I still find it shocking that Bobby Seale was bound and gagged.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8, it aired on HBO in the mid to late 80's. It too was a re-enactment based on the court transcripts, they were a little dry but the original defendandts and attorneys were all participants offering commentary. It was really enjoyable.
Did you see that Will Smith might play Bobby Seale in the Sorkin written, Spielberg produced The Trial of the Chicago 7, with Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman!!!! If this project sees the light of day it could be interesting.
^ Brian, somebody just told me about Will Smith and the Spielberg project. To be quite honest, I think Jamie Foxx would be a better Bobby Seale.
ReplyDeleteBut Sacha Baron Cohen is an inspired choice to play Abbie Hoffman.
It's hard for me to say why (more of a gut reaction then anything else) but sometimes I love Jamie Foxx and other times I don't.
ReplyDeleteI tend to like character actors more so then stars so honestly my first choice to play Seale would be Eamonn Walker who played Kareem Said on Oz.
As an after thought (and because I've been watching The Wire a lot lately) how about Idris Elba?
I saw this movie back in June at the Silverdocs festival and really liked it. It made me a lot more sympathetic to Abbie Hoffman and the Yippies than I had been previously. Not the definitive look at the riots, but a good entry point for young people. Brett Morgan also did The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002).
ReplyDeleteThis is a good clip of people storming a hill in the park and here's a nice clip with Abbie Hoffman calling in to Bob Fass's radio show.
^ Thanks for those links, TPV.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna make it a point to be in Silver Spring for the next Silverdocs festival.