The Trial

"The Trial" is but a small fraction (despite it's long running time) of the larger "On Cinema" universe. The Trial, like the rest of the On Cinema universe, is basically a soap-opera revolving around a narrow cast of incredibly dysfunctional people.

On Cinema began as a podcast, then became an independent YouTube show, and was finally picked up by Adult Swim (where it is both shown on television and made available on YouTube. On Cinema is basically just a framework for various story-lines that revolve around Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington--both playing fictionalized versions of themselves. The On Cinema show has produced a number of notable related spin-offs including annual Oscar Specials, five Decker "movies," The Trial, and the theatrical release "Mister America." It is also carried over to social media wherein both Tim and Gregg further interact and advance the various stories. Each of these projects (including The Trial) continues and/or develops further story-lines within the On Cinema universe. It is an incredibly ambitious comedy project that has lasted the better part of a decade and shows no sign of slowing down. It is truly one of the biggest, most successful performance-art projects ever undertaken. None of these projects are presented in a stereotypical "comedic" fashion--they are each played out as surreal dramas (or in the case of Decker as 'action' films).

All of that aside, The Trial is a great watch for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is Tim Heidecker's performance. Tim is a criminally underrated actor--probably because of the absurdity of the subject matter he involves himself in. Still, you can see in The Trial (and much of his other On Cinema projects) how versatile and frightening he can actually be. The Trial is basically played "straight" but there are so many bizarre, unbelievable elements at play it is easy to overlook the real genius on display.

Although you don't necessarily need to watch multiple seasons of On Cinema to appreciate The Trial, it wouldn't hurt to at least watch a few episodes to understand the personalities of Tim (and Gregg) as well as the stressed relationship.

When the cast of your legal drama is composed mostly of actual lawyers and anchored with a retired judge, who also consult on the script and production, and the one person not encumbered by the script is the buffoon on trial, you got a formula for something wholly unique and fascinating.

The Trial of Tim Heidecker is hands-down the most realistic legal drama/comedy ever recorded, and is rightfully mentioned in the same breath as 12 Angry Men and My Cousin Vinny. If you've ever been a juror, you will not be able to recognize this as fiction.

12 Angry Men, The Verditict, Anatomy of a Murder... These are films I think of when I think of great courtroom films. All of them are great until you go to a real court and realise they are nothing more than overacted Hollywood nonsense. The Trial takings you into the pace and feel of an authentic, yet entertaning, courtroom drama. Tim should get life in prison for killing the Electric Sun 20!

I am of the opinion that you are either a Tim Heidecker fan or you are not. His dark humor is not for everybody. However, if your mind works the "right" way, this is quite possibly the funniest human being ever. In this spin-off from "On Cinema," sociopath Tim Heidecker tries to defend himself from charges that he was responsible for the deaths of twenty young people at his Electric Sun concert. Is Tim responsible? Oh hell yeah! However, in Tim's incredibly dark and devious mind, prison is not an option. So we are treated to one of the most bizarre and narcissistic defenses ever put forward by one diseased mind. The real treat is how incredibly realistic this trial seems. The acting is so top-notch. We have the courtroom actors and favorites from the show like Gregg, Dr. San, etc.. I laughed so hard, while at the same time, feeling somewhat troubled at how comfortable Tim portrays such a sociopathic monster. I wish more people could appreciate this, but I realize that it is not for everyone.

Hey there, On Cinema co-host Gregg Turkington... This was hands-down one of the dumbest things I have ever sat-through, and I had to stand up and sit back down several times, and still consider it an overwhelming entirety of a full sit-through. 'The Trial' movie is just a court recorder, shamelessly not moving the camera angle, during a case involving ramped up junkies overdosing at a trashy music festival on enhanced vapes. I laughed at this, satirically, but not in a very comedic way. Ridiculously long, dry, and remarkably unfunny. Yet Heidecker and his costars still use their time to be intriguing, multi-faceted, in-depth with their character analyses, worth a chortle or two, and put together for a good use of film. In other words, great show awesome job.