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Reviews
Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8 (1987)
Better than The Trial of the Chicago 7?
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.
The Luminaries (2020)
An aspect of New Zealand I never knew existed
A fascinating series set against a backdrop of gold-prospecting in Victorian NZ. The leads are exceptionally good, and ably supported by a cast of largely unfamiliar NZ and Australian actors. My wife and I watched five episodes over two evenings, and we shall be sorry when the last episode is over!