1001 Movies Club - 12 Angry Men (1957)

#315. 12 Angry Men (1957)

Why It's In The Book: "Sidney Lumet's courtroom drama enjoys enduring popularity because it is a hothouse for smart performances, sudden twists, and impassioned monologues... Lumet's much loved, engrossing debut film makes no apologies for its theatricality but makes a virtue of its claustrophobic, sweaty intensity. And each actor makes his mark in this showcase of superb characterizations and ensemble dynamics, from Martin Balsam's insecure foreman to a leonine Lee J. Cobb's belligerent, embittered Juror No. 3... Class and ethnic prejudices, private assumptions, and personalities all come out in a colossal struggle for unclouded judgment. The film won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival but its greatest accolade is that after seeing this picture no one ever enters into jury duty without fantasizing about becoming a dogged champion of justice à la Fonda, whatever the case at hand." -1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

Member Ratings

Adolytsi - 10/10
"12 Angry Men is consistently watchable through multiple viewings, one of the best compliments I can give a good film, and is extremely well made to boot."
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Alyson - 10/10
"There needed to be an award for best acting ensemble."
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Chip - 10/10
"As the movie goes on, the tension and the emotions keep ratcheting up.  Lumet deliberately shot the film with the camera starting out further away from the jurors and as the movie goes on he moves it closer and closer to their faces to increase the sense of claustrophobia, tension, and battle of wills.  The result is that something that sounds quite boring – a jury deliberation – becomes almost edge of your seat entertainment."
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Jaime Grijalba - 10/10
"The acting (...) is the best in the history of cinema, it's incredible how they found so much talent."
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Klaus Ming - 10/10
"Brilliantly written and performed, 12 Angry Men is a gripping and provocative human drama with a story which reaches far beyond the overheated and claustrophobic setting of the jury room."
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Michaël Parent - 10/10
"The first feature film directed by Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, The Verdict) is one of the greatest huis clos dramas to ever be put on film."
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Tim Burrow - 10/10
"Top notch performances from all 12 actors, a flawless script, and attentive direction make 12 Angry Men truly one of the finest films ever made. It is, in a word, perfect."
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Brian Vs. Movies - 9/10
"not the follow-up movie adaptation to the Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno television show, "The Angriest Man".  Instead, it is a courtroom drama that actually doesn't take place in a courtroom at all."
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Doug Tilley - 9/10
"Packed with memorable moments, most notably Fonda pulling out a switchblade knife and embedding it in the jury room table, it also features terrific performances from a variety of recognizable faces."
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Movie Guy Steve - 9/10
"The actual guilt or innocence of the young man on trial is never revealed, because it isn't important. Ultimately, the jury's decision isn't that important either."
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Squish - 9/10
"Here we are in 2011, surrounded by the age of IMAX-3D-CG-HD and 7.1 Surround Sound, and Reginald Rose's 12 Angry Men screenplay bites its thumb at us, a reminder of what's really important in cinema. Seeing it firmly planted at #7 on IMDb's Top 250 list is indeed a nice confirmation of that fact."
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Darwin - 9/10
"In a way, the film offers the viewer the role of a juror and the movie's jury members act as defense and the prosecution. So you have the power to think for yourself and draw your own conclusions."
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Kim Wilson - 7.5/10
"Aided by brilliant cinematography, outstanding editing, and stellar acting, 12 Angry Men is an inspiring look at one of the most disliked and avoided duties of American citizenship."
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Overall Rating: 9.4/10