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Trial of the Chicago 7 on Netflix: Where are the real-life players now? Frank Langella as Judge Hoffman in âThe Trial of the Chicago 7.â. Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast talks to Frank Langella about playing Judge Julius Hoffman in "The Trial of the Chicago 7." He tried every time to invest whatever character with as much truth as he could. Oddly, Paul outlived them all. “He had no redeeming qualities at all. completion guarantor: Film Finances, Inc. “When you’re my age, you get actors who naturally and lovingly bow to you,” said Langella. No scene was ever shot without the entire panoply of actors sitting in front of me. Based on a true story, Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7 ⦠As a theater actor, Langella has won multiple Tonys (including one for “The Father,” in the role likely to garner an Oscar nomination for Anthony Hopkins). What Paul was about: he was a marvelous man to know.”, Movie stars, Langella said, can be “actors whose presence is comfortable, safe, and warm. “He was a shit,” he said. Netflix. Frank Langella does not mince words when it comes to describing his real-life character, Judge Julius Hoffman, in Netflixâs âThe Trial of the Chicago 7.â âHeâs about as a big a son-of-a-bitch as Iâve ever seen, both on paper and in real life. “All the classics I’ve done, I’m safe inside these brilliant writers,” he said. PGA Film Nominations: Will This Year's Winner Predict Best Picture at the Oscars? Aaron describes him in one sentence: ‘Judge Hoffman is either a total pawn of the government, or getting senile, or a combination of both.’ There are men like this, more than we like to know, who have grown up with all sorts of ideas about who to defend and protect. “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” Robert Redford, Paul Newman, 1969. He never surprised you. Sorkin “powerfully reduces it one great scene, which really works,” said Langella. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Veteran actor Frank Langella takes on the role of Federal District Judge Julius Hoffman, who infamously presided over the trial of the Chicago 7 with a clear sympathy for the prosecution. âWhen you have something this well crafted, you just have to ⦠Frank Langella plays Judge Julius Hoffman in the Netflix film âThe Trial of the Chicago 7.âThe actor just earned another nomination from the Screen Actors Guild ⦠Gary Cooper or Clark Gable, who is so great to be around, they lasted 30-40 years. “This was an especially adoring group of actors, 14 men together for two solid weeks. “I’d spend the day at my bench, perform when I was on camera and do my best for my colleagues off-camera, and every other actor did the same,” he said. Aaron Sorkin wrote and directed the historical drama, based on the true story of Vietnam War protestors who were accused of starting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Frank Langella feels the power â and its abuse â in playing the âChicago 7' judge ... would one day give me one of the greatest parts Iâve ever played,â says the 83-year-old actor. Official Sites The Trial of the Chicago 7 will be released on Netflix. The Chicago Seven trial was not the only high profile case for Judge Hoffman, but it is the one that is most remembered when it comes to his career. He knew it, deep down in his heart, when he was up against his contemporaries Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando, they all had it in spades. He knew on the first day he was going to convict, no question. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Usually when I play a villain I try to find one, but I couldn’t find one. | Langella plays the pivotal role of Judge Julius Hoffman who is the chief antagonist of the film. The movie The Trial of the Chicago 7 is written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. It was a joyous experience for that reason, with 300 extras to play to. “We watched each other every day. No actors last that long. The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a scorching actors showcase. The Chicago Seven came together to protest the war in the 1960s. Former federal prosecutor Dick Schultz, 82, is the last living attorney from either side of the Chicago 7 trial. “We shot in 18 days on a budget under $800,000. Eddie was there every day, he never had a word to say, but he was there, always no matter what the scene was, he was there totally committed, but no dialogue. I took a fraternal and maternal feeling about them. By Alex Bentley. From Chadwick Boseman to 'Nomadland,' the Critics Choice Awards Build Momentum, 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier:' Everything You Need to Know About the MCU's Next Disney+ Show, 7 New Netflix Shows in March, and the Best Reasons to Watch. That is the favorite indie film I’ve ever done, followed by ‘Robot and Frank,’ and on a larger scale, what I did with George Clooney on ‘Good Night, and Good Luck.’ It was a beautifully written character [William Paley] and film.”. They use their position to cover what is venal and dishonest and cruel behavior, and they do it the name of whatever they think they stand for.”, At first, his instinct was to isolate himself from the rest of the cast in order to maintain his character’s place as insurmountable obstacle. But he was never frightening. I dismissed any humanity. In a film like The Trial of the Chicago 7 thatâs so jammed with brilliant actors, itâs easy to lose sight of amazing Frank Langella is in the film. “I saw 10 minutes of ‘Cool Hand Luke,’ and was reminded of a screen presence and a magnificent face. He wanted to be a great actor and worked very hard. Chicago (2002) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. This Article is related to: Awards and tagged Best Supporting Actor, Frank Langella, Oscars, The Trial of the Chicago 7. Jussie Smollett fails to persuade judge to drop Chicago lawsuit seeking $130,000 fine. I admired him playing less on his image than the other guys did. It was like being on a stage with an audience.”, At Hoffman’s direction, Black Panther leader Bobby Seale [Yaya Abdul-Mateen II] was brought bound and gagged into the court three days in a row. The Trial of the Chicago 7 features a loaded ensemble cast, so who are the main players and where have you seen them before? Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Jussie Smollett case: Judge denies motion to dismiss Chicago lawsuit against 'Empire' actor. In fact, in The Trial of the Chicago 7, every single actor has the opportunity to shine bright, not the least Michael Keaton, who has only two scenes playing LBJ's attorney-general Ramsey Clark. Technical Specs, See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro, co-executive producer (as Gail Griffith Benafiel), co-executive producer (as Jonathan Benefiel), co-executive producer (as Emily Salveson), additional makeup artist: Chicago (as Rochelle Fisher), additional hair stylist: Chicago (as Sunni Powell), hair stylist (uncredited) / wig ventilator (uncredited), second second assistant director: chicago unit, assistant art director (as Ambika Subramaniam), Visual Effects Producer: Brainstorm Digital, visual effects producer: Brainstorm Digital, compositing supervisor: Brainstorm Digital, camera operator "a" camera / steadicam operator, second assistant camera: A camera: Chicago Unit, extra casting assistant: Chicago Unit (uncredited), Key Background Costumer (as Jon Richards), Lab Supervisor: Remote Color Grading Greek Lab, location assistant: Chicago (as Matt Cholewick), musicians: orchestra (as Chamber Orchestra of London), dot administrator (as Andrea Jeanine Staley), Police Military Technical Adviser Chicago, dialect coach: Mr. Redmayne and Mr. Sharp, SVP of business strategy and finance: kodiak pictures, assistant production coordinator: Chicago, additional production assistant: Chicago Unit.