Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8

I watched this on YouTube the day after I saw The Trial of the Chicago 7, and whilst I liked the latter, I was impressed by the drama/documentary style of Conspiracy, and the fact that it was based on court records and interviews with all of the defendants and the three main defending lawyers who were alive at the time.

Comparing the two casts, I can't fault the actors, but in this one as William Kunstler Robert Loggia has an edge on Mark Rylance, and David Opatashu as Julius Hoffman has an edge on Frank Langella.

If you haven't seen either, I suggest you watch this one first to get more of the truth about a shameful period of American justice.

Anne Kerr (I925 - 1973), Labour MP for Rochester and Chatham from 1964 - 1970, is portrayed in a small part by an uncredited Carolyn Seymour. Kerr died of acute alcoholic poisoning, and at her inquest, her husband Russell Kerr (also a Labour MP), said that she had never really recovered from being beaten by police at Chicago five years earlier.

Spectacular docudrama that highlights one of the most famous trials of the 20th century. The usage of the split screen and seeing the real defendants commenting on the trial as the actors are playing their parts is so innovative and amazing. The real Abbie Hoffman is as always so entertaining and a larger than life figure. So sad to know he killed himself a few years after he was filmed for this movie. Also the use of real stock footage is interspersed throughout and adds a layer of reality and mounting tension during the trial. Tremendous performances led by David Opatashu as the judge and a terrific cast of riveting actors makes this a must see television movie.

This is an innovative, historical, and very well acted account of the US Government's attempt to put a generation of anti-war protestors on trial. From a political standpoint this film succeeds in outlining the key issues protestors had against the Vietnam War. From a legal standpoint this film succeeds in defining what may have been the most unorthodox and legally flawed trial ever to take place in America. On the artistic side, this film combines fantastic actors who embody the spirit of the true life defendants as well as offering intertwined detailed accounts from the participants themselves.

In respect to the reviewer who stated this wasn't what he remembered, I can only say that media accounts usually do not cover events accurately and that this whole docudrama is taken from the actual court transcripts. As someone who has taught and studied this trial and accounts, I assure you will not find better.

For an understanding of what divided and still splinters our country, this truly is required viewing.

Required viewing for all American History students should be the rule. Thanks to the great actors, Mickael Lembeck, Elliott Gould, Peter Boyle, Brian Benben, and all the others, this film takes you back to when America's youth set out to made a statement and when they really believed they could change the world..... and didn't we in some ways???

Some TV movies make you wish for suicide and others entertain you. Still others do not belong, they seem to be real movies. This is one of them... I think this is a greatest TV movie of all time and a damn good movie.