Films like this are annoying because it’s not particularly good but it’s about an interesting subject.
It depresses me how a lot of information about the 1960s seems to only be coming out now. It’s like the establishment memory-hole it, and it’s only now, or at least “now” as in last year when liberal filmmakers were pretending to be revolutionaries against the President, that the politics of revolution have been resurrected in mainstream media.
So while I don’t think this film is good and I don’t think it’s good that some of the people are portrayed the way they are, I’m glad that these stories are being told.
Seriously though…
Why is the Prosecution presented as sympathetic? Why was Tom Hayden made out to be a borderline narc? Why were the Yippies (one of whom later killed himself) presented as idiots? Why was Fred Hampton’s murder included when it didn’t happen while Bobby Seale was on trial? Why were the demonstrators, who had the National Guard called on them at one point, not shown at all?
Because for people like Sorkin, protests are the pursuits of idiot Yippies, and only men like Tom Hayden, who eventually did enter the political system, are worthy of our thoughtful consideration.
In the end the film believes in the great lie, that change can only be done incrementally, and working within the system. It’s sad to see people who fought against that being used to tell that message.
Brooking The Vault 