Chicago 10 (DVD)

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The animation Morgen employs looks like the computer-rotoscoping technique used in various other motion pictures, like Richard Linklater's animated films, and TV commercials. It's apparently inexpensive and gets the job done. In this case, I suppose Morgen intended it as a further mocking of the silliness of the trial, but I didn't find it all that intriguing, just a little off-putting.

Furthermore, as important as the convention protests and the trial were, the movie doesn't seem to say anything new about them, doesn't seem to illuminate the characters or events any more than what most people already know. And if Morgen intended his film for younger audiences who might not know the circumstances, I'm not sure he gave them enough inspiration beyond the anticipated slant the case takes when presenting its facts.

It would take over six years after the events of Chicago before a majority of the nation saw the light, agreed with the protesters, and forced the government to end the war. Still, as I say, the movie's portrayal of the convention events and trial failed to move me as much as I wanted them to, despite some powerful images. The Chicago police had guns, clubs, and tear gas. The protesters were unarmed. You figure it out.

Video:
Because of the nature of the storytelling, the video presentation is all over the map. The 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen ratio encompasses old newsreel footage, new title shots, and a good deal of computer animation, with the vintage scenes varying from faded color to grainy black-and-white, the title screens purposely grainy to set the mood, and the animation looking letter perfect. Colors in the animation are especially vivid, with excellent definition and virtually no noise or grain. The rest, as I say, is variable, the director no doubt leaving the older material just the way he found it.

Audio:
The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio does what it can with its mix of old and new content. The surrounds do a fine job with crowd noises and a few special effects; the frequency response appears limited to midrange dialogue; and the dynamic range has virtually no reason to be any wider than it is, which is pretty narrow. This is a documentary, after all, not a summer blockbuster.

Extras:
There is not much in the way of extras here. Mainly, we get a "Chicago 10" Remix Video Contest winner Gina Tararoli's minute-and-a-half short subject. Beyond that, there are a few previews at start-up and in the main menu; sixteen scene selections, which no menu lists anywhere (I had to count the chapter stops by pressing "Next" on my remote); English as the only spoken language; and English subtitles.

Parting Thoughts:
I'd say it's close but not quite the big cigar for Brett Morgen's well intended and in some ways highly original documentary. Well, the use of animation in "Chicago 10" is different, anyway, whether it works or not. The movie's overall appeal is little more than ordinary; where the film should, theoretically, have lighted a fire under the viewer, it tends often to fizzle. Nevertheless, its subject matter is too important to miss.

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