by rogerco on Sun 3rd Jan 2021 Streamed proj @ home

Dramatised Real Events from '68-'69

Summary

Possibly more drama than documentary.

Full review

Difficult to know how really real the story as told is. We didn't see much of Hoffman/Rubin clowning around in court - for the most part they seemed respectful and compliant. We are told by his then girlfriend that the story of the female undercover cop picking up Ruben is complete fabrication (which is not to say there weren't spy-cops around). Hayden comes across as a typical liberal dumbass Menshevik, despite finally falling into line with the pre-sentencing statement.

Hoffmann, played very well by Sacha Baron Cohen, ultimately is seen as the cleverest cookie in the jar. Bobby Seale is well played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Mark Rylance as the lead defence lawyer William Kunstler was excellent.

The film didn't really make you feel how long the trial went on (6 months) or that it was avidly followed outside the courtroom - nightly TV news reports and acres of newsprint. It also didn't make it clear that all the defendants were acquitted on the main conspiracy charge and the five were only found guilty on the incitement to riot charge.