Login
I saw this film two hours before this review was posted and i've never been in such a hurry to write one.
The plot revovles around twelve jurors who are uncomfortably brought together to debate about a seemingly open and shut murder case. The unanimous decison appears in sight except for juror No. 8 (Fonda), a citizen with a conscience who insists on establishing reasonable doubt.
The film some thought was a courtroom drama is quite the opposite, we see hardly any of the courtroom or the trial, we are instead drawn to the hot atmospheric examination room afterward where cigerttes are smoked, 'facts' are discussed and voices are raised.
The ingeniuity of 12 Angry Men is not the review of the trial or the evidence, but the dissection of the jurors. Everyone has a range of diversified views and inclinations on each other with real world preconceptions, With character basis working well individually and also on a group level as prejudices's are revealed.
We feel ourselves becoming more and more immersed with Verisimilitude as the camera direction and choreography becomes so tight with intensity we see the beads of sweat on their faces. With the debate raging back and fourth and a youngs boys life hanging in balance,it never lets up on pace. A must see for film fans a must not for those who suffer with high blood pressure.
9/10
