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12 Angry Men(1957)- Review

12 Angry Men(1957)- Review


12 Angry Men is a courtroom drama displaying deliberations, as its name suggests, by 12 men who are part of a jury and have to make a consensual decision about an 18 year old boy who has allegedly stabbed his father to death and faces a death penalty. The boy does not come from a glorious background and with his violent past everyone quickly forms a judgment of him. Initially seeming an open & shut case with all evidence pointing fingers to the boy, all jurors unhesitatingly vote guilty in a preliminary vote apart from one, Juror 8 (Henry Fonda). While he too doesn’t have very high regards for the boy, but believes the evidence collected can be questioned when thoroughly studied. With this he feels there is a reasonable doubt to the boy’s involvement to the horrendous act. Other jurors already having made a conclusion in their mind initially get agitated by Juror 8 who is taking an opposite position to the general public & all the jurors. Without all jurors agreeing a verdict cannot be declared so they need to continue their deliberation, this fact adds to all the other jurors’ frustration. The movie till the end displays the whole deliberation among the 12 men and Juror 8 trying to make the others realise that there is a faintest doubt if not a strong one.

The movie may be made decades ago but still does not fail to capture the attention of any viewer be it of any generation. It is a brilliant production devising which would have required an exceptional mind. With only one location setting and majorly showing only the 12 men for almost the whole of the movie, might have initially caused ridicule in the ideation stage, but that concept of a single setting and just a little more than a handful of actors is what makes the film so amazing. The story/case is surely not the most expansive but with Fonda and the other actors gives a different depth which no one could have anticipated. The dialogues fairly well written keeping it precise and very much to the point.

Some viewers may be discouraged with it being a black & white film, through the start that is a little uncomfortable but after a while you won’t even realise it. Having been made in the 1950’s it is a rarity to see a film having a run time under 100 minutes.

There are very few if any aspects that can be deemed disappointing. 12 Angry Men is a must watch for everyone, it may be an old classic but its content is relevant even today.

Acting- 8.5

Casting- 8.5

Cinematography- 8

Dialogue- 9

Directing- 9

Editing & Effects- N/A

Sound & Music- N/A

Story- 8

Storytelling- 9

Rating- 9.5


Available on: Amazon Prime

Also Read On: Medium—Vocal—Substack


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