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.

Related Categories:
Movies > Education/General Interest
Movies > American History/Culture

Related Keywords:
Animation
Documentary
Theatrical Release
American History

Reviews:
"Not content with trippy image pastiches, Morgen splinters narrative chronology into four distinct time frames..." - 01/01/2008 Film Comment, p.72-73

"The director want to bring recent history to life for people who weren't around to witness it, and in that he succeeds pretty admirably." - 02/29/2008 Los Angeles Times

"CHICAGO 10 is well worth seeing....A good half of the film is devoted extraordinary footage of the four days of rage that spawned the trial." -- Grade: B - 03/07/2008 Entertainment Weekly, p.72

"The scenes of radical foment and the actual marches and riots are shown in archival footage, much of it excellent; Morgen also does a sly job with his musical selections..." - 02/28/2008 Premiere

Brett Morgen - Co-Producer and Co-Director of "On The Ropes" documentary
Jeff Skoll - Executive Producer, HOUSE OF D (2005)
Roy Scheider - American actor, JAWS, ALL THAT JAZZ, THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Roy R. Sheider - American actor, JAWS, ALL THAT JAZZ, THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Nick Nolte - American actor, AFFLICTION
Jeffrey Wright - Actor/"Basquiat"
Jeff Danna - Composer\"BOONDOCK SAINTS"
Peter Schlessel - Executive producer
Diane Weyermann - Executive producer, CHICAGO 10
William Pohlad - Producer, A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION (2006)
Bill Pohlad - Producer, A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION (2006)
Mark Ruffalo - Actor
Dylan Baker - American actor, LOVE POTION #9/SPIDER-MAN movie series
Hank Azaria - Actor, THE SIMPSONS
Laura Bickford
Graydon Carter - Producer, THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE (2002)
Ricky Strauss - Executive Producer, THE SWEETEST THING (2002)
Liev Schreiber - American actor, SCREAM series/LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA