12 Angry Men (1957)

12 Angry Men: Juror Misconduct

Sidney Lumet makes a stunning directorial debut with this gritty, sweaty, emotionally charged drama about 12 jurors deciding the fate of an eighteen year old defendant charged with 1st degree murder; they carry the legal burden of deciding guilt or innocence but understand a conviction could lead to the death sentence.

An exceptional cast of now legendary actors fall into character (we never even know their names, only juror number) and don’t miss a beat of dialogue or a camera cue…this film is nearly perfect in its direction.

Most of the film takes place in the cramped juror’s quarters; Lumet is able to get his camera into these tight spaces and bring us up close and personal to the characters and feel their intellectual and emotional turmoil as they debate the facts and presentation of the trial.

This important duty is influenced by their deep-rooted prejudices such as racism, feelings on immigrants and the poor, and their own family skeletons. Henry Fonda advocates for Justice and Reason and for all to consider the facts…not to just make a quick decision so they can make the Yankee game because a boy’s life hangs in the balance. I work in the local District Attorney’s Office and have experience in homicide trials so consider this: a jury is only supposed to consider facts and veracity of testimony presented at trial, not their own research and supposition. Did they mistakenly let a guilty man walk? It's worth considering. Final Grade: (A+)

Recommendations: The Birds, Breathless (Jean-Luc Godard, 1960), Funny Games

All reviews copyright Korova, Ltd. Visit Alex at his Home Theatre Blog, http://korovatheatrepresents.blogspot.com/

12 Angry Men

I'm trying this thing where I review some of my favorite classic movies.

Sidney Lumet's (a great director, by the way) "12 Angry Men" was released in 1957 and stars Henry Fonda, John Fiedler, Jack Klugman, Martin Balsam, and 8 others. It's one of the greatest films ever made in the history of the entire medium. Every single thing that makes a movie great and worth remembering 52 years later is present in this film.

12 Angry Men refers to twelve jury members. These men are in charge of deciding the fate of a teenage boy who has been accused of killing his father with a knife. If all 12 jury members decide the boy is guilty then he gets the electric chair. Originally 11 jury men think the boy is guilty. Henry Fonda (Juror # 8) is the only one who thinks that he may be innocent. And of course if there's even the slightest doubt you cannot send the boy to the electric chair. Henry Fonda spends the next approximately 90 minutes trying to get the other 11 people to see his point of view. They go through a variety of different scenarios to see if it's possible that the boy is innocent.

Some of the best ensemble acting in any movie is on display in "12 Angry Men." The fantastic cast is led by Henry Fonda, who is perfect as the lead character - both determined and persuasive. The other 11 are also fantastically cast. The interactions between all of the characters seem natural. Some of the jurors are stubborn and some are extremely soft spoken, but as time goes on everyone gets on edge and becomes aggravated with each other. The movie is extremely character driven since the same 12 people spend almost the entire duration of the movie in one room. And it is done perfectly.

The script is also great. The dialogue is well thought-out and fits the characters well. It is also very concise, so the movie doesn't drag out at all. The 97 minute run time is utilized extremely effectively, making the character interaction more fast paced and interesting to watch.

"12 Angry Men" showcases some impressive cinematography. There are lots of close shots, making the room they are in feel very small. Also, close-ups of the faces of the jurors are used several times throughout the movie to show their facial expressions. The camera moves throughout the jury room during the movie, making for a variety of different shots.

"12 Angry Men" is one of the best movies to come out of this wonderful place known as the United States of America. Henry Fonda and the rest of the cast give amazing performances, which is helped by an fantastic script. Sidney Lumet proved that he was a great director and all the scenes and camera angles were set up exceptionally well. People have been watching for over half a century now and loving every minute of it and for good reason...I highly recommend that anyone who has not seen this movie yet to go out and rent it sometime...unbelievably well-made and entertaining. 4 out of 4 stars...one of my top 3 movies of all time...it's hard to explain how amazing it is...you need to experience it for yourself.

(Read Less...)