11-27-2020, 04:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-27-2020, 05:29 PM by TM2YC. Edited 1 time in total.)
Athlete A (2020)
A powerful Netflix documentary chronicling the exposure by 'The Indianapolis Star' of physical, mental and sexual abuse within the US girl's gymnastics system. Naturally it covers the abuse by Larry Nassar, whose court proceedings were already well publicised after the judge made him sit through impact statements from 150 survivors and sentenced him for up to 175 years. However, more time is given to the deep-rooted culture of abuse and cover up in the 'USA Gymnastics' organisation from the CEO Steve Penny down. That monsters like Nassar exist, in denial about their crimes, is sadly no surprise but to see the plain evidence of many people (parents, who wouldn't themselves ever commit such acts) actively engage in covering up the abuse of children, silencing the victims and punishing them professionally for speaking out was absolutely shocking, just to protect their jobs and reputation. Thankfully it looks like some of them are facing jail time too. It was also damning to hear more than one former child athlete recall that Nassar was the only one within the 'USA Gymnastics' leadership that they remember treating them with any kindness. It sounds like a sinister sport but the film suggests things are finally changing. 'Athlete A' is definitely required viewing.
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The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
I absolutely love legal dramas and titular trial about the trumped up charges brought against Vietnam protestors at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago takes up most of the runtime, so I was in heaven. Mark Rylance plays the defence with intelligence, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the prosecution with nuance and Frank Langella is incredible as the backwards Judge. Sacha Baron Cohen and Eddie Redmayne are excellent as Abbie Hoffman and Tom Hayden, virtually enemies but fighting on the same side. Jeremy Strong also provides some enjoyable comic relief. Writer Aaron Sorkin's first directorial effort 'Molly's Game' was pretty bad, making me think he should've stuck to his typewriter but his second film 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' is top notch. Maybe him sticking to politics and the law is the key because he knows exactly how to tell this kind of a story. Lots of detail, lots of drama, lots of characters and meaty dialogue about truth and power. It helps that the case is deliberately chosen to be analogous with recent heavy-handed suppression of US protestors, so Sorkin can say what he wants to say about freedom of thought and draconian authority today.
A powerful Netflix documentary chronicling the exposure by 'The Indianapolis Star' of physical, mental and sexual abuse within the US girl's gymnastics system. Naturally it covers the abuse by Larry Nassar, whose court proceedings were already well publicised after the judge made him sit through impact statements from 150 survivors and sentenced him for up to 175 years. However, more time is given to the deep-rooted culture of abuse and cover up in the 'USA Gymnastics' organisation from the CEO Steve Penny down. That monsters like Nassar exist, in denial about their crimes, is sadly no surprise but to see the plain evidence of many people (parents, who wouldn't themselves ever commit such acts) actively engage in covering up the abuse of children, silencing the victims and punishing them professionally for speaking out was absolutely shocking, just to protect their jobs and reputation. Thankfully it looks like some of them are facing jail time too. It was also damning to hear more than one former child athlete recall that Nassar was the only one within the 'USA Gymnastics' leadership that they remember treating them with any kindness. It sounds like a sinister sport but the film suggests things are finally changing. 'Athlete A' is definitely required viewing.
<hr style="border: 1px solid white;" />
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
I absolutely love legal dramas and titular trial about the trumped up charges brought against Vietnam protestors at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago takes up most of the runtime, so I was in heaven. Mark Rylance plays the defence with intelligence, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the prosecution with nuance and Frank Langella is incredible as the backwards Judge. Sacha Baron Cohen and Eddie Redmayne are excellent as Abbie Hoffman and Tom Hayden, virtually enemies but fighting on the same side. Jeremy Strong also provides some enjoyable comic relief. Writer Aaron Sorkin's first directorial effort 'Molly's Game' was pretty bad, making me think he should've stuck to his typewriter but his second film 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' is top notch. Maybe him sticking to politics and the law is the key because he knows exactly how to tell this kind of a story. Lots of detail, lots of drama, lots of characters and meaty dialogue about truth and power. It helps that the case is deliberately chosen to be analogous with recent heavy-handed suppression of US protestors, so Sorkin can say what he wants to say about freedom of thought and draconian authority today.
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