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Movies / Upcoming / Chicago 10
Chicago 10

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Chicago 10 (2008)

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Reviews Counted:77

Fresh:61

Rotten:16

Average Rating:6.7/10

Consensus: Brett Morgan's half-animated, half-documentary film is an arresting, sometimes visionary portrait of the historic and chaotic trial.

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Education/General Interest

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: Brett Morgen follows up his dazzling THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE with another daring, inventive work of nonfiction. CHICAGO 10 tells the raucous story of the trial that resulted after the... Brett Morgen follows up his dazzling THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE with another daring, inventive work of nonfiction. CHICAGO 10 tells the raucous story of the trial that resulted after the tumultuous Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968. During the convention, a group of Yippies and other confrontationists pulled off a series of sit-ins and pranks that led to an eruption of violence. The result was a trial that simultaneously amused, thrilled, and challenged the nation and our notions of freedom. The supposed leaders of these insurrections became defendants, who used their position in the spotlight to further provoke the powers-that-be. They included Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner. In addition to providing a solid historical context using stock footage of actual events, Morgen takes Rubin's claim that the trial was a cartoon to a literal level by recreating the trial's most infamous moments in full-blown animation. Famous voices (Hank Azaria, Nick Nolte, Dylan Baker, Mark Ruffalo, Roy Scheider, Jeffrey Wright, Liev Schrieber) provide the energetic dialogue that brings these scenes to electrifying life. Morgen also uses a sonic onslaught of aggressive modern pop music (Eminem, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine) to remind younger viewers that at the time, these were the voices of genuine anti-authority. CHICAGO 10 works as an invigorating history lesson that aims to wake viewers up and remind them of their ability to help determine where American society is headed. [More]

Starring: Hank Azaria, Dylan Baker, Nick Nolte, Mark Ruffalo

Starring: Hank Azaria, Dylan Baker, Nick Nolte, Mark Ruffalo, Roy Scheider, Liev Schreiber, Jeffrey Wright

Director: Brett Morgen

Director: Brett Morgen
Screenwriter: Brett Morgen
Producer: Brett Morgen, Graydon Carter
Composer: Jeff Danna
Studio: Roadside Attractions

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Reviews for Chicago 10

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1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
10/01/08
Hollywood.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: NPR.org | comment Comment
10/18/08
Bob Mondello
Bob Mondello
NPR.org
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Peter Keough
Peter Keough
Boston Phoenix

Chicago 10, Brett Morgen’s semi-animated, semi-documentary attempt to make the ’60s cool for a new generation of kids, does the opposite.

comment Comment
02/29/08
A.O. Scott
A.O. Scott
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The raw, gritty, real stock footage just doesn't match with the spoof-like quality of the animated trial.

Full Review Source: Sin Magazine | comment Comment
06/18/08
Austin Kennedy
Austin Kennedy
Sin Magazine

Creaky and overinstructive.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
02/29/08
Bob Strauss
Bob Strauss
Los Angeles Daily News

Given the filmmaker's privileged perspective of hindsight, to notconsider the real-world repercussions of their theater, to not connect the dots between 1968 and 2008 is a squandered opportunity.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
03/14/08
Carrie Rickey
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer

The first sign that somebody will be wholly unable to effectively communicate with kids today is when they refer to them as "kids today."

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
02/28/08
Chris Barsanti
Chris Barsanti
Filmcritic.com

History is on the side of the protesters, who were right to shout about government corruption and the Vietnam War, so a contemporary film needs to more than just take their side.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment 1 Comment
03/14/08
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

A cacophony of sights and sounds and a disjointed narrative dilute the message.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
02/29/08
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Lacks even the confidence to let speak for themselves the images of police and national guardsmen clubbing unarmed American demonstrators.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
02/28/08
Donald J. Levit
Donald J. Levit
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Morgen's film suffers from two fatal flaws: prosaic story-telling and political naivete.

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
03/01/08
Harry Chotiner
Harry Chotiner
culturevulture.net

However authentically chaotic, Chicago 10 is insufficiently frenzied. For all its shock value, the trial was not the only game in town.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
02/27/08
J. Hoberman
J. Hoberman
Village Voice

His political heart is in the right place but Brett Morgen can't connect the '60s anti-war movement to the political counter-culture from which it sprung.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
01/19/07
Kirk Honeycutt
Kirk Honeycutt
Hollywood Reporter

In eschewing the use of a narrator or talking heads, Morgen leaves out too much crucial information.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
02/29/08
Lou Lumenick
Lou Lumenick
New York Post

Should probably have more depth after four decades of reflection.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
02/28/08
Matt Pais
Matt Pais
Metromix.com

In the end, the truest thing that can be said for Chicago 10 is that, though Morgen did just about everything he could to make his movie unwatchable, the story was interesting enough to fight him to a draw.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
02/29/08
Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle

Brett Morgen's tiresome recreation of a watershed 1960s political trial shoots at fish in a barrel -- and misses.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
01/25/07
Ray Greene
Ray Greene
Boxoffice Magazine

Virulently biased (not one opponent of the 10 is interviewed), the film is ruined by presenting the trial via cartoons. I kept expecting Judge Hoffman to say, "Eh, What's up doc?"

Full Review Source: tonymedley.com | comment Comment
02/28/08
Tony Medley
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com

As a peace-loving liberal, cross-examining Morgen's rousing, worthy, but slanted film is as fun as kicking yourself in the shins (or watching Clinton tear into Obama)

Full Review Source: I.E. Weekly | comment Comment
02/29/08
Amy Nicholson
Amy Nicholson
I.E. Weekly
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Chicago 10

August 27, 2008: Docu-drama revisits historic free speech trial of anti-war activists arrested during the 1968 Democratic Convention. Opens in new window
More...

February 28, 2008: Critics Consensus: Semi-Pro is Semi-Good, Boleyn Girl Not Quite Movie Royalty
This week at the movies, we've got hapless hoopsters, snouted socialites, and scandalous siblings. What do the critics have to say? More...

January 21, 2007: Sundance News: "Chicago 10" Disappoints; Dakota Fanning's "Hounddog" Violating Child Pornography Laws? "Crazy Love" Causes Bidding War
Since the Sundance Film Festival started two days ago, three films have already drawn extra media attention. "Chicago 10," Brett Morgen's highly anticipated follow-up... More...

January 20, 2007: Sundance Reviews: "Chicago 10" Is Unique But Flawed; "The Savages" Is Wrenching And True
Here are some short reviews of "Chicago 10" and "The Savages," both of which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. More...

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