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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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41 - 60 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 >> >|
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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

[Chicago 10] may be history for the attention-deficit generation, but it's too good to ignore.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
02/29/08
Maitland McDonagh
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

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

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

A provocative reflection of its rule-breaking subjects, Brett Morgen's political documentary re-examines the past while drawing unmissable parallels to the present.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
02/29/08
Elizabeth Weitzman
Elizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily News

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.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
02/29/08
Carina Chocano
Carina Chocano
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Creaky and overinstructive.

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

Worth seeing for the expert archival selections, but a decidedly mixed bag for anyone familiar, or unfamiliar, with the times.

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
02/29/08
Peter Rainer
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor

The movie dazzles us into self-examination.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
02/29/08
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe

An electrifying picture.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
02/29/08
J. R. Jones
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader

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 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.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
02/29/08
Brett McCracken
Brett McCracken
Christianity Today

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.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
02/29/08
Peter Sobczynski
Peter Sobczynski
eFilmCritic.com

The film uses voiceover actors and Waking Life-style animation to re-create the infamous trial with amazing effectiveness and intimacy.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
02/29/08
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

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.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
02/29/08
Jim Emerson
Jim Emerson
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

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

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

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.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
02/28/08
Tasha Robinson
Tasha Robinson
AV Club

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.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
02/28/08
Gene Seymour
Gene Seymour
Newsday
 
 
41 - 60 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 >> >|
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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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