Rating: 
Summary: How to make a great movie (recipie below)
Review: 1 incredible script
12 talented actors
lots of emotion
1 very simple set
no special effects
Produce under good direction. Serves millions. Seriously, this film is a masterpiece. A jury has to decide a seemingly open and shut case of a young man (who, as with most of the jurors, remains nameless throughout the film) who has been accused of murdering his father in a fit of anger. The evidence couldn't be clearer that this guy did it. Murder weapon, motive, eyewitness testimony all in place. One juror (Fonda) however, wants to talk the case out. He's not 100% convinced that the guy is guilty. And so it begins. An emotional roller coaster follows as we learn about the jurors, their reasons for voting as they do and how (or if) they are forced to re-evaluate the evidence. Part of the charm of this film is it's starkness. 99% of the film takes place in one room; the jury room, a simple set consisting of little more than a table, 12 chairs, some windows and a fan. The best part, I believe, is the character development of the jurors. When the movie begins, they are just 12 anonymous characters. Even though none of the jurors are named in the movie (two are in the very last scene, after the case is over) by the time the movie is over, you feel as if you know and understand every one of them. Truly a remarkable film and well worth repeated viewings.
Rating:
Summary: Worth seeing even after forty years
Review: If I could give one film more than 5 stars this film would be it. "Twelve Angry Men" is an atmospheric, hard-hitting film about the life or death decision that twelve jurors have to make in seemingly cut and dried case of patricide. On the surface, the nameless accused seems guilty but one juror, played magnificently by Henry Fonda isn't so sure. Forcing his companions to reevaluate the case opens a can of worms as the prejudice, indifference, and ignorance of his fellow jurors become all too apparent. There are many stereotypes in this film, such as the angry father played J.Cobb, and Jack Klugman of Quincy fames is excellent as the young man who has pulled himself out of the slums and knows more than his fair share about switch-blades and how to use them. Fonda, however is the King-Pin in this film, drawing the many characters together, from the gentle, quiet immigrant watchmaker, to the handsome but stupid Advertising Executive. At first the film moves slowly, almost sedately, but it quickly gathers momentum, giving you tense moments such as the secret ballot at the beginning, to the power struggle between Fonda and the enraged spurned father in the guise of Cobb. Fonda's stand against his fellow jurors is bittersweet as he strives to convince them the case might not be as cut and dried as they think. Full of tense moments, quality acting, and surprisingly good male bonding scenes as temporary friendships and alliances are set up as more and more of the jurors become aware that the boy on trial just might be innocent. The steamy heat in the jury room is not just from the stifling heat wave that the city is going through rather it is symbolic of the tension between the men, and the breaking of the weather is also the breaking of the group into two factions; those who still think the boy is guilty and those who have reasonable doubt. The 1997 remake of this film was instantly forgettable, lacking the atmosphere and chemistry of the 1957 version. Sidney Lumet's"12 Angry Men" is testament to brilliant acting, a superb script and suspenseful directing. Quite simply the best film ever made in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal
Review: I have used this movie countless times, during staff training and community development programming. It has proven to be a very effective movie with respects to training and educating the viewers on the issues of conflict resolution, respect, communication, and open mindness. This is one of the best performances by Henry Fonda, and is fascinating that this one-scened, black & white movie, can hold an audience captive for two hours! Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: That table gets smaller and smaller and smaller....
Review: ...as the movie goes on I think that table gets smaller. Maybe I've seen it too many times and I'm picking up things that aren't there...but I'll never get tired of watching for it. And how long is that first uninterrupted shot in the jury room? Gotta be a few minutes before there's an editing cut...but I'll never get tired of watching for it. The director creates more tension with one room, a one-sentence plot and 11 great character actors (+ Henry Fonda) than in all of the action films in the last 10 years put together. A one-of-a-kind flick that can truly be called a "classic."
Rating:
Summary: a big classic and one of the best management training
Review: All the other review made are correct about this master piece. In addition to all the plaisir you get in enjoying a great film it it as well one of the most effective managment training I ever got. How do you manage to get in a meeting room and change the mind of all the people around you and bring them to your point of view ? All the best techniques are in this film. Just enjoy and learn at the same time!
Rating:
Summary: 12 Angry Men
Review: This is a great movie which takes place in one small room. Everytime I watch this movie I am mesmerized by the stock B&W images. The comfortations between the actors are superb and you can't help but feel you're the 13th juror sitting at the table. My favorite movie!
Rating:
Summary: Should be compulsory to see this film..........
Review: Anyone who ever says "Oh, I like movies" or who states "My favourite film of all time is Titanic/The Postman/Sound of Music" etc, etc should be made to watch this film. If anyone can find fault in it (the original, I've not seen the modern remake)then could they please explain it to me so I can try to understand. Everything about this movie is perfect. Watch it. Then watch it again and again. I was stunned by it!
Rating:
Summary: Separates the men from the boys.
Review: Take 12 great character actors and put them in one room for the entirety of the film, and do it without driving the audience crazy. How? By creating a masterpiece. Henry Fonda had started to direct the film (he produced it) but instead gave the nod to first-timer Sidney Lumet (who would go on to a string of 'classics': Serpico, Prince of the City, The Verdict, Fail-Safe, Network). Through his use of the camera, Lumet creates much of the drama here. The intense setting, the biting dialogue is all well complimented by perfect casting, each of the twelve is right on target, from Robert Webber to John Fiedler and everyone in between. This film stands alone. It is blasphemous Showtime would do a remake in 1997 adding nothing to this fine original other than needless color film stock Sit back and enjoy a wonderful, one-of-a-kind piece of dramatic film making
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: In this classic, Henry Fonda finds himself standing alone against 11 fellow jurymen trying to convict an 18-year old boy for killing his father. If convicted, the boy faces the death penalty. Fonda expresses his desire to at least talk about the case before sentencing a boy to death. Over the course of the movie, tempers rage as the men's personalities and prejudices are revealed as motives for believing the boy is guilty. The author of the original play must have been an expert in human personalities. In watching the movie, it is easy to make judgments on some of the extremely prejudiced jurymen, but I believe that we can find traces of each one of the men in ourselves if we look hard enough. This film portrays excellently the prejudices and personality flaws which all of us possess, and how these traits influence how we make decisions. The acting done by Henry Fonda and the rest of the cast is incredible. Often underrated, this great film will always be a classic! Also recommended: The newer version of this film starring Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, and Ossie Davis.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible, stand the test of eternity
Review: i found this film to be one of the best films that i have ever seen. It's filmed (all of 3 minutes) in one room, one static hot room. The film is moved by it's dramatic dialoge and intense performances "who tells you you have the right to play with a mans life..." This is a film that can be watched over and over again. Definatly one of my favorite films of all time.
| 
