Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2020: Mark Rylance in The Trial of the Chicago Seven

Mark Rylance did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying William Kunstler in The Trial of the Chicago Seven.

It is a shame that Mark Rylance almost completely flew under the radar that should've been considered a banner year for his performances between his work as the humanitarian in a system of cruelty in Waiting For the Barbarians and his performance here. I think here you get really two major points of opportunity for the great Rylance. The first is in the type of role that should be perhaps played by every great actor at some point in their career, that is the crusading lawyer, the juicier the better, and good for Rylance, this is a juicy one. Mark Rylance plays William Kunstler the lead attorney for 7 out of the 8 men put on trial for conspiracy to hold a riot after the protests of the 1968 democratic national convention. Rylance's performance is once again a showcase of his unique talents, this as he commands the space, probably while taking up the least amount of space this side of Ian Holm. Rylance is ideal for Kunstler as the opposite to the nature of the prosecution. This Rylance carries himself with an effortless combination of both conviction and exasperation as he broaches the unwieldy case and his unwieldy clients. Rylance's expression say more than a whole lot, as it captures Kunstler's sense of the particular kind of weight of it all. This both in terms of the odds against them in terms of the setup of the trial but also the circus of it all. Rylance's portrayal actually does something unique for such a film, as despite being the crusader lawyer type, he isn't at all distant. In fact Rylance in a way becomes kind of the audience surrogate by showing a man who seems most ready to reflect on the reality of the situation against the other men who have their minds on other things, or the prosecution and judge (Frank Langella) who are obviously quite evident in their desire to throw the proverbial book at the men. 

Rylance for me is the greatest balancing factor for the cast that really serves two purposes, one to literally portray Kunstler's way of handling the disparate forces that are his clients, or even not his clients, but also doing so in kind of dealing with the ensemble. Rylance is in many ways a terrific straight man to so much of the dynamics within the film. We have the moments of quietly trying to speak to Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) to try to advise him best he can without actually being his lawyer. Rylance brings this perfect kind of respectful candor towards asking if the man needs help in contrast to Seale's intensity. Towards the purposefully irreverent Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, Rylance's quiet questions and little near eye rolls, effectively sum up his attempts to basically cull the often ridiculous antics of the two men, while always being all too aware that they're unlikely to listen to anything he says entirely. Rylance is this wonderful facilitator in these moments, and every time I re-watch the film, the best moment of these interacting dynamics is due to Rylance. He hits just the right balance to seriously presenting Kunstler's stances, like his calm yet assured delivery on why Seale is held in jail when the rest are not, and just being slightly bemused by his clients, such as his perfectly dismissive tone towards David Dellinger (John Carroll Lynch) by breaking down Dellinger's claim of presenting himself as the ideal witness. Rylance's simple dismissive alert that being a conscientious objector during World War 2 does not make him sympathetic, is executed perfectly.  

Of course what we do expect is the serious lawyer handling the courtroom, and expectedly Rylance is superb. Rylance once again is something of a marvel by how incisive he can be simply through his restraint. When he says something quietly the potency of the conviction makes it cut through a scene entirely. Rylance just has that way with words as he cross examines a witness. Rylance is wonderful in playing the sort of leading towards logical sense of explaining things. When Kunstler breaks down a man who tried to essentially say members of the 7 were trying to extort him, Rylance is wholly in control and in power. He speaks with just such ease, yet still with power. This as he grants a whole rhythm within the man that is wholly persuasive, yet is the epitome of calm. The film though follows not Kunstler's successful defense, as much as he attempts that, but rather shows the way the whole court is against them due to the extremely hostile judge. Rylance's work then becomes in a way the man trying to work his way within this broken court. Rylance's delivery giving this exceptional combination between frustration while trying to maintain appropriate decorum. Each of Rylance's reactions has an impact, this as he exudes a sense of exasperation within each moment of speaking with the judge. His eyes grasping every frustrated opportunity and problematic situation. Rylance's performance then becomes this gradual loss of this balance, that grants a tremendous impact as he loses more and more patience towards the judge. Rylance making it so when Kunstler begins to break it is remarkable. This in his angered delivery of "No he does not" when trying to explain to the judge that Seale is not being given his rights by being tried without a trial. This greatest moment being when he tries to put the former Attorney General Ramsey Clark (Michael Keaton) to testify in front of the jury which the judge denies. Rylance is outstanding in creating the tension of the intensity of his disbelief at this point. Rylance presenting both the passion for the man for the actual law, and just his anger at this insanity. Rylance's face being broken by the illogical moment, and just the moment of Kunstler slamming down his law book, shows how far Kunstler has fallen in terms of any belief in the law in this moment. 

 

The other opportunity I did not mention yet is dealing with Sorkinese by Aaron Sorkin, which is both an opportunity and a challenge for an actor. This as Rylance never falters with it, even in lines I think many would. The challenges found whether it would be his low key way of saying "good pep talk" when speaking to somewhat hostile clients, which could've been easily way over the top, or his comic delivery of "then shut the fuck up" when he inquires if the men ever showed up for jury duty despite complaining about the jury pool. Rylance nails the lines, and just has this ease with them, even when some could be a mouth full. The opportunity found when Kunstler presses on Tom Hayden (Eddie Redmayne) on having spoken words of violence to the crowd during the convention. Rylance is amazing in this scene and makes every line sing. What I really love about this is that basically Rylance shows what is so lacking in Joseph Gordon-Levitt's performance as the prosecution, as Kunstler represents the grilling Hayden would get if he took the stand. This as Rylance actually shows a different man's methods in the moment, and is brilliant in doing so. Rylance makes every word cut to the core of the moment, and effectively shows how Hayden would be broken down with ease. Rylance successfully both being a calmer sort of lawyer and the firebrand through this scene. Although aspects of the film have lost their impact over time, not an iota of the strength of Rylance's work was lost on me. Rylance is all of the best aspects of the film at their greatest intensity, and never falls within the film's lesser qualities.