One of those classics I had never seen before and was recommended that I do, starring Henry Fonda, Jack Klugman, and Ed Begley, amongst others.
This film does not have action sequences, car chases, people jumping out of windows or moving trains, clever stunts, excessive swearing, special effects or dramatic fight scenes.
Instead what we have is drama, with 12 men, almost none of who we learn the names of, but we learn much about the men as they inhabit a jury room, deciding the fate of a young hispanic boy accused of murdering his father. The original lone holdout to a unanimous guilty verdict, Fonda's architect, provides the impetus for the 12 men to examine the case, their own beliefs, and each other.
Minimalist to the extreme, the movie except for two short sequences never leaves the jury room or its bathroom, and the viewer feels penned in with the men. As the men debate the case, so too comes themes from society, ranging from prejudice to social justice. The movie is not didactic, though, although if the movie has a message, it is that reason, not emotion, should hold sway in court and in life.
Although what Fonda's architect does (no spoiling!) would probably be grounds for a mistrial, it does provide the crack that allows the 12 men to consider the case fairly, and finally come to a unanimous decision.
TNT may say that they know drama, but this movie definitely knows Drama, and shows it, with characters, personality traits, and very subtle cues throughout the movie.
Very well done indeed. It was nominated for Best Picture, but lost out to Bridge on the River Kwai.
Posted by Jvstin at August 21, 2007 9:01 PM