12 Angry Men (1957) Review:
- toshea217
- Jun 13, 2020
- 3 min read
A 90-minute conversation in one room…is somehow one of the most engaging movies of the 20th century? Now that takes skill.
Are there even many original films today that would attempt something like this? Be able to rely solely on the quality of its script, camera movements, and acting to keep the audience engaged? Now, I’m sure they’re out there…but I can’t think of anything recently that comes close to rivalling this 'one room drama'; at least for me. It seems that so many movies today (not all) have lost something of the things mentioned above; perhaps its because of an overreliance on new technologies? But back then, without any access to what we have today, they had all the more time to put effort into the things that really mattered in telling a great story. That's not to say that what we're able to achieve today in film doesn't matter, or isn't important. But I believe it's secondary. Seriously, this is a black and white movie with no special effects or incredible set pieces. And yet it’s quite possibly one of the most compelling films ever made.
Originally a 1954 television play, 12 Angry Men was adapted to the big screen in 1957 (Directed by Sidney Lumet). It follows the story of 12 jurors, given the gravely important task of…doing what jurors do. On trial is an 18-year old man, accused of murdering his father. If he is deemed guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by unanimous decision, he faces execution by electric chair. Interestingly enough, the court case itself is not presented; rather we learn of the case, its circumstances and evidence through the discourse of the “12 angry men”. What at first seems to be an obvious “guilty verdict” is promptly turned on its head when juror #8 (Henry Fonda) votes “not guilty”, throwing the unanimity of the other 11. And thus the 90-minute conversation begins…and it’s epic.
Image from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/12-Angry-Men
This is how you write a script! Written in such a way that is both brilliant and accessible. Not that I’d recommend the movie to kids (mature themes), but they’d be able to follow along for the most part if they did. It pulls you in from the get-go and creates tension through a combination of camera angles and top-quality acting. Beginning with a friendly discussion, the audience becomes acquainted with the men; especially each of their unique personality traits and working backgrounds. Things quickly escalate, bringing out the darker sides of their human nature; a number of them embodying it in different ways. The audience is made to immediately suspect if something else is driving these men to their seemingly reasonable judgements, all in the name of 'justice'.
What it also done masterfully is the way in which it sets things up for a later payoff. Certain threads that don’t seem to be of much importance at first, other than to add humanity to the characters, lead to a climax that is extremely satisfying on both a narrative and emotional level.
From the perspective of faith, there is much that can be drawn. The first and foremost is the sanctity of human life; the dignity of each individual human person bestowed by God. It reveals the all too common ‘quick to judge and condemn’, even when it seems reasonable to do so. For many of these characters (though not all), when this “reasonableness” starts to wear off, we begin to see more than a few cracks. It’s an investigation into their underlying motivations that contribute to their desire in declaring “guilty!” It shows that even when there is evidence to support a judgement, one’s desire may not always be in accord with justice. Rather, it can be tainted in a myriad of ways.
For this film, it is primarily prejudice, vindictiveness and selfishness that is at the heart of many of the jurors. And when combined with a course case that seems to point towards a guilty verdict, these personal flaws are hidden. It's only when one of the jurors (knowing the inherent value of every human life) begins to question some of the evidence put forward that they gradually become exposed. It’s the kind of movie that by the time you finish it…you just feel great.
VERDICT
Do yourself a favour and watch it! It’s 90 minutes of your life well spent; trust me, you won’t want it back.
9.6/10
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