12 Angry Men
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Movie Reviews of 12 Angry Men
Movie Review: An excellently made courtroom drama
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not a fan of old movies, but this film was very compelling and excellenly directed. Unlike other legal dramas, the entire film takes place in the juror room. The beginning of the movie starts out with the jurors leaving to deliberate, and a single shot of the man whose fate they have to decide on. I normally would have been bored with a film that takes place in a single setting, but the director does an incredible job of presenting the different characters, and brings a lot of personality to every one. The viewer begins to understand each of the jurors as the movie progresses, and their reasonings for their verdict.The other great thing about this filmn, is that none of the facts of the case are presented in the court, and all of the knowledge the viewer has about the case come from the jurors. As they present their arguments, we begin to learn more about what might or might not have happened. At the end of the film, we still don't know what actually happened, which shows that the movie isn't about whether or not the man is guilty or not, but the reasoning and logic that produces the final verdict given by the jurors. The tension in the jury room is amazing and you find yourself siding with certain jurors, almost as if you were actually in the room.
As far as the DVD for this film goes, it's pretty weak. ZERO extras on a DVD nowadays is just unacceptable, even if the movie is 40 years old. I'm sure in their extensive vault they could have come up with something.
Movie Review: POSSIBLY THE BEST MOVIE - EVER!
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, this film is, as far as I can remember at this moment, the oldest & most moving film (combined). The majority of films made at this point and b4, even the ones people claim are "not for the faint of heart" and "riveting" and "socially relevant" and bla bla bla, are tame and boring. This film is like an explosion of passion, a non-stop wildfire of a film. And what's the big huff about? The truth and the right to justice, regardless of race, color or creed, etc;. This film is wrong vs. right, majority over the minority, etc; And even though this film was made at a time when films (from the eyes of today's folk) were not worth a dime of one's time (99.9% of the time at least), this film remains one of the most moving and passionate films, possibly THE most moving/passionate/etc., EVER made! Not even the 1997 W. Friedkin remake surpasses this movie (although it's still a good movie - I saw the remake first, 'cause I had never heard of the original). That's all I can say for this film. Also, let me bragg that I REALLY WISH there was a deluxe superspectacular tribute-type edition of this film with deluxe packaging special features (LOTS of special features, after all, isn't that what got DVD on the page?) and the whole shoobang, 'cause I'd be ashamed to spend a mere $10.00 or whatnot on this film. So I added three of these to my shopping cart, so I can buy them and sell them for a starting bid of $0.01 on ebay.Movie Review: Brimming with Tension
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the first and finest movies from the courtroom drama era of the late 50s and early 60s, 12 Angry Men is a marvel of moviemaking. Henry Fonda plays the famed juror #8 with the perfect mix of reason, naivety, dignity, and diligence. The claustrophobic feeling of being stuck in the jury room provides an overabundance of suspense, doing an even better job than one of my other favorite claustrophobic films, Hitchcock's experimental Rope. Even with the constraints of being stuck within a small room, Lunet's direction of 12 Angry Men is masterful, with some of the simplest and yet some of the most artistic camera shots ever translated to film. The human interaction between the jurors is the main story, and is played out beautifully, providing plenty of tension as the vote changes Fonda from an underdog into the majority's leader. Keeping in mind that a dozen different men are crammed into one small room, it is essential that the film provides well-rounded character development, and in 12 Angry Men we see an example of perfect character development in film. As the stories of the mens' lives are filled in, we find that not only do we know these people, we are these people. The meek, the bombastic, the apathetic, the prejudiced. Symbolism at its best. Even with the unending idealism that makes the story a bit too Capraesque, you can't help but feel emotionally redeemed when they finally walk out into the courtroomMovie Review: Impressive!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
It is very interesting movie. This film shows twelve men¡¯s debate in one room except first scene, which is inside a court and last scene, which is outside a court. It does not seem to take money. The synopsis of this film is quite plain. Twelve jurors sentence to a boy who is indicted for murder. However, one juror declares not guilty, he was not sure of guilty. Another jurors complained that, they think it more in detail. One by one, they have doubts and situations that were thought as a fact, become uncertain circumstance. Finally, they change their mind to not guilty one by one. It is a nice point of this film. As I was watching this film, I found some peculiar things. It is a constituent of jury who are all men and Caucasian. It explains atmosphere of the society at that time as this film was made in 1957. U.S.A. accepts a jury system typically, so the constituent of jury is quite important. Twelve jurors all indicate different occupation, personality and thinking. This point is also amusing. At First, guilty was superior to not guilty eleven versus one, but at the end this situation completely changes on the contrary. It is splendid and attractive because of well-organized screenplay and outstanding performance. Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb, their acting was brilliant and impressive. This film is the best work as a courtroom film that is ever made.
Movie Review: Gripping courtroom drama
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a courtroom drama with a difference. Apart from a very brief scene in the courtroom itself, the film takes place in the jury's deliberation room. The whole film revolves around the deliberations of a jury in a murder case in which a guilty verdict will lead to the death penalty for the accused. Initially it all seems very clear-cut with an all male jury having decided on a the young mans guilt before they have even sat down, all that is except for one man (Henry Fonda). Although he believes the accused may have possibly committed the murder, his values and ethics won't allow him to agree with his fellow jurors without thrashing out all of the evidence. Gradually he forces the other men to confront the evidence in front of them and to admit the situation is not as clear cut as it seemed. At the same time they are brought face to face with their own prejudices.
Filmed in black and white and shot almost entirely in one room, this film allows the viewer to concentrate entirely on the dialogue with nothing to distract from the story. It is a credit to the acting skills of the cast and to the direction of Sidney Lument (in his directorial debut) that the film remains gripping throughout. This is drama at its best and still one of the finest, if not the finest, courtroom dramas to be found.