A cacophony of sights and sounds and a disjointed narrative dilute the message.
Chicago 10 (2008)
Tomatometer
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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
Reviews for Chicago 10
[Chicago 10] may be history for the attention-deficit generation, but it's too good to ignore.
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.
In eschewing the use of a narrator or talking heads, Morgen leaves out too much crucial information.
A provocative reflection of its rule-breaking subjects, Brett Morgen's political documentary re-examines the past while drawing unmissable parallels to the present.
The director wants to bring recent history to life for people who weren't around to witness it, and in that he succeeds pretty admirably.
Worth seeing for the expert archival selections, but a decidedly mixed bag for anyone familiar, or unfamiliar, with the times.
Chicago 10, Brett Morgen’s semi-animated, semi-documentary attempt to make the ’60s cool for a new generation of kids, does the opposite.
The filmmakers' hope, presumably, is that kids will see Chicago 10 and get stirred into action%u2014taking to the streets to take down The Man, Yippie style.
A bit of a mess but it is such an energetic and ambitious mess that it winds up capturing the energy and feel of its subject better than a more staid approach to the material possibly could have achieved.
The film uses voiceover actors and Waking Life-style animation to re-create the infamous trial with amazing effectiveness and intimacy.
As an activist documentary with a contemporary agenda, it doesn't pretend to be "objective" (whatever that means), but to find inspiration in the passion and irreverence of its heroes.
The first sign that somebody will be wholly unable to effectively communicate with kids today is when they refer to them as "kids today."
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?"
Lacks even the confidence to let speak for themselves the images of police and national guardsmen clubbing unarmed American demonstrators.
For those who don't mind their history pre-seasoned with a little phantasmagoria and a lot of sarcasm, Chicago 10 is a hugely entertaining piece of pop fluff, as dynamic and modern as the Beastie Boys cut on the soundtrack.
If presentation of the tumultuous events before, during and after the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago will suffice for a feature-length film, then it's hard to imagine a more ferocious or inventive depiction than Chicago 10.
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. ![]()
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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