Featured Audience Ratings

• Jeff "

  
  With a blazing cast and effective plot, Sidney Lumet's debut picture is a stunning drama and one of the essential classics of cinema. What makes Sidney Lumet's work standout is the fact that he can do so much with so little. 12 Angry men, has a great cast of talented actors… More
  With a blazing cast and effective plot, Sidney Lumet's debut picture is a stunning drama and one of the essential classics of cinema. What makes Sidney Lumet's work standout is the fact that he can do so much with so little. 12 Angry men, has a great cast of talented actors who deliver strong performances. The film starts off slow, but as the film unfolds, the plot becomes more intense therefore you're more involved. Lumet is a terrific filmmaker and he crafted a solid picture with this one. The fact that Lumet is able to pull off terrific tension because of the performances he gets out of the actors as well as a well constructed script that is engaging. Despite the fact that the film is set in one room, the film showcases Sidney Lumet's talent in telling a well constructed story early on in his career. This is a simple, yet brilliant film that delivers suspense as the film unwinds and as the plot progresses the tensions mount to a great climax. A key component of the film's success is Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb on-screen chemistry. Their disagreement over the facts of the case is one of the strongest aspects of the film. Henry Fonda is terrific here, and his performance is memorable, and is only topped by his performance by the Sergio Leone classic Once Upon A Time in the West. If you love classic cinema that relies more on the casts performances rather than effects to create an effective plot, then 12 Angry Men is a must see film and is among Sidney Lumet's greatest achievements in cinema. This film should definitely be seen by any serious film fan.

• Jon J

  
  To most people, this was a clear-cut case. A young man accused of patricide with a gun, a mountain of evidence against him and a jury of 12 people that are more concerned with getting home as early as possible than to serve in the name of justice. After the hearing, the jury was sent… More
  To most people, this was a clear-cut case. A young man accused of patricide with a gun, a mountain of evidence against him and a jury of 12 people that are more concerned with getting home as early as possible than to serve in the name of justice. After the hearing, the jury was sent into a small room to come to a singular decision - a simple choice of guilty or not guilty. The vote was cast, hands shot up in agreement to the guilty verdict, yet one man stayed his hand: juror number 8 (Henry Fonda). In the face of incredible unilateral pressure, he was the only one that dared to look closer at what had perspired that fateful night of the crime. At that point the entire room goes up in a furor, the tension rises, the temperature shows no sign of going down and as the sun sets alongside the ensuing discussions, things only get more complex. In principle, this set-up is incredibly simple, most of the film happens in one room with a small cast of only 12, all focusing on one set plot point: did the accused perpetrate the crime? The simplicity, however, is only superficial. Every single juror in the room has his own story, his own background, that not only explains what lies behind their decision in the vote, but also highlights the overall character of each juror outside the courtroom. There's the father that's slowly but surely grown distant from his only son; there's the foreigner who's just trying to keep a low profile. One juror is timid, another brash, even another cold and calculating. So what seems to be a room full of like-minded people (with a single exception) progresses into one that is filled with arguments, conflict and turmoil. It's within this battlefield of emotions that the film gets its strength. It may be from its theater-inspired atmosphere or the increased focus on argumentative discourse among (quite) intelligent men, but the film is simply magical. Transforming a jury room into a place of almost palpable excitement is no easy task. Yet this is what Sidney Lumet (director) and Reginald Rose (screenwriter) do with relative ease, squeezing every ounce of character from each juror. As mentioned earlier, this resembles as much a theater piece as it does a movie, lending it a touch of proximity that would otherwise have been impossible to achieve. Together with the brilliant acting, the transformation from the mundane to the fascinating (noteably something that Sidney Lumet achieves later on in Dogday Afternoon) is accomplished. Though some actors play far bigger roles than others (the salesman for instance gets only a few lines), no-one feels out of place or inconsequential. The big fish is of course Henry Fonda, who plays the single dissenter who has the gargantuan job of convincing everyone else to take a few steps back to analyze the situation. Oddly enough, though, his character isn't one of brimming self-confidence and a foolproof plan of execution. He often seems unsure and in fact confirms that feeling on more than one occasion - his desire lies in holding a fair trial, not one that is governed by a unilateral verdict on either side. With every step in the deliberation, he ponders about each piece of evidence, its implication and connection to the murder. Even the viewer can't help but feel that everything points to a guilty verdict for the boy. However, like pieces of a puzzle, juror number 8 puts forth simple truths that had been forgotten in the heat of the moment, not to mention the heat of the day. Thanks to the movie's set-up, even the person watching gets to join in (albeit indirectly), putting things in perspective as the tale goes along. Other great performances include that of E.G. Marshall as a stern pragmatist and Lee J. Cobb as a distraught, obstinate father. Lee is particularly memorable, being one of the most interesting jurors in the room and one you get to know incredibly well as time passes. Thanks to its mesmerizing script, diverse and talented cast, and contained direction, 12 Angry Men is doubtlessly a classic. In fact, it is one of the prime examples of brilliant filmmaking from its time. Don't doubt whether or not you should see it; the only question is when!

• Carlos M

  
  An impressive achievement considering it was Lumet's first film, extremely well-written and superbly directed, with many elegant shots and fluid camera movements. Really gripping and audacious, it takes place entirely in a chamber, sustained by a tense, compelling dialogue.

• xGary X

  
  Sidney Lumet's classic courtroom drama is based upon a very simple premise; a jury is sent to deliberate on a capital murder case and one lone juror stands alone against the other eleven arguing that there is reasonable doubt. Virtually the entire film takes place in the same… More
  Sidney Lumet's classic courtroom drama is based upon a very simple premise; a jury is sent to deliberate on a capital murder case and one lone juror stands alone against the other eleven arguing that there is reasonable doubt. Virtually the entire film takes place in the same room and the characters are a deliberate cross section of different personalities from all walks of life. They even remain unnamed for the length of the film. It's basically a tribute to the American justice system and democracy in general; imagine a more high brow version of Frank Capra without the sentimentality. Slightly reminiscent of Rashomon, it exposes the preconceptions and prejudices behind the attitudes of some of the jurors and their refusal to accept the possibility of a juvenile delinquent's innocence and is fascinatingly told as a kind of detective story in reverse, Fonda gradually dismantling the prosecution's case piece by piece. The character's are all really well written, the dialogue taut and the director's skill is consummate as he creates tension and drama without ever leaving the jury room. It's very stagey and occasionally reminded me of a game of musical chairs for that reason and it may be a little subdued for younger tastes used to fast cuts and gratuitous action, but for me this is still the best courtroom drama ever made.

• Graham J

  
  12 Men, one room, maybe the most exciting and powerful hour and a half of film I've ever seen.

• familiar s

  
  Not to deny that it's a remarkable classic and I enjoyed it reasonably despite having watched its remake quite a while ago, but I'd have to admit that it's a downhill trip for the last half hour. Nevertheless, highly recommended by all means.

• Pierluigi P

  
  A lesson in cinema and justice.

• Alexander D

  
  Courtroom drama puts a dozen infuriated men in a room together, allows them to factually (and, sometimes, not so factually) bicker about whether or not an eighteen-year-old by is guilty for stabbing his father to death. The film starts off with eleven voting guilty and one voting not… More
  Courtroom drama puts a dozen infuriated men in a room together, allows them to factually (and, sometimes, not so factually) bicker about whether or not an eighteen-year-old by is guilty for stabbing his father to death. The film starts off with eleven voting guilty and one voting not guilty (all jurors names are avoided), while the rest of the film entails the singled-out juror encouraging the other eleven to see the facts beyond the simple, "It was a murder, the kid is guilty." I'm no film-noir fanatic, so you can look at this review as either less predictable or more critical than it should be. The first thirty minutes or so of 12 ANGRY MEN were boring, but if a viewer skipped them, then he or she would not understand one bit of the rest. The last ten to twenty minutes are the best, but then again, if one were to go right to that scene on YouTube, per se, he or she would not understand the brilliance I am referring to. You see, you have to watch ALL of this film to comprehend the marvelousness of it. It's not like there's one big landmark scene that you can watch and love; nothing like the final dance from DIRTY DANCING, or the axe-wielding scene from THE SHINING, for instance. If there's one film that makes me want to watch more Henry Fonda films, it's 12 ANGRY MEN. His (mostly) unnamed role is superior, and it stands out above all the other characters, especially that silly old guy who reminds us now of Alan Arkin's character LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, always going off on tangents (on a murder case!?) and making jokes. (Eventually, though, he turns what seems like a bizarre tangent into something creates a unanimous vote, making him a significant character, thank goodness.) Oh, look, that was a tangent itself! Heh. Great film, anyway.

• KJ P

  
  12 Angry Men is a film with a basic idea that turns into a complex, dialogue-ridden feature film that will have you on the edge of your seat for the full 90 minutes that this brilliant classic surely embraces. Henry Fonda leads a debate with a 12 manned jury on the case of whether or… More
  12 Angry Men is a film with a basic idea that turns into a complex, dialogue-ridden feature film that will have you on the edge of your seat for the full 90 minutes that this brilliant classic surely embraces. Henry Fonda leads a debate with a 12 manned jury on the case of whether or not an 18 year-old boy is guilty of murdering his father. Taking place after a courtroom session, these men "angrily" reflect on the statements made by the accused and the defendants as they fight until the bitter end when all the possible facts are on the table. I was pulled into this amazing film and I felt what every man had to say as they made critical points that will make you go back and forth, never truly knowing which side to take, even though you may have a good idea! This classic is one of the smartest written films I have ever seen! 12 Angry Men is magnificent!

• Liam G

  
  Incredibly engaging drama with stunning performances all round. A great achievement in filmmaking from the late Sidney Lumet.

• Thomas B

  
  Breathtaking filmmaking. Full review later.

• Jameson W

  
  Stunning film! The fact that this film takes place entirely in a jury room but still delivers, is incredible. Sidney Lumet brilliantly directed this masterpiece; I doubt that any director could replicate the greatness in this film, today.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Even though it's slightly dated and starts to feel just a tad contrived towards the end, 12 Angry Men is nevertheless riveting and, most importantly, smart. The fantastic script by Reginald Rose is matched in its intensity by a remarkable cast, where Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb,… More
  Even though it's slightly dated and starts to feel just a tad contrived towards the end, 12 Angry Men is nevertheless riveting and, most importantly, smart. The fantastic script by Reginald Rose is matched in its intensity by a remarkable cast, where Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden and Ed Begley stand out.

• AJ V

  
  This movie is fantastic, it's suspenseful, dramatic, and very intense. This film is a classic, and the best court drama I've ever seen.

• Jay H

  
  This classic easily goes down, along with "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994), as my favorite film of all time. This is perhaps the most important film to a modern judicial system, and is required viewing for anyone who wishes to call themselves a proper and good citizen of… More
  This classic easily goes down, along with "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994), as my favorite film of all time. This is perhaps the most important film to a modern judicial system, and is required viewing for anyone who wishes to call themselves a proper and good citizen of any free nation.

• Alice S

  
  Every juror is illustrated so specifically. They're all types but completely fleshed out - each with their own demons and prejudices. However, the older I get, the more cynical I get about what I take away from the film. What if they WERE sunglasses? What if the woman had… More
  Every juror is illustrated so specifically. They're all types but completely fleshed out - each with their own demons and prejudices. However, the older I get, the more cynical I get about what I take away from the film. What if they WERE sunglasses? What if the woman had been reading in bed because she couldn't sleep? What if the boy just grabbed the knife overhanded because he obviously wasn't getting into a knife fight? This whole movie is a must-happen - a gloriously-paced must-happen but... I want to marry a man who looks like Henry Fonda. Not fall in love with a man like Henry Fonda. <i>Marry</i> a man who <i>looks</i> like Henry Fonda.

• Reid V

  
  Exquisite! 98% of this film is inside of one room. There is very little physical action and relies primarily on the spoken word. Yet, this is not a bad thing, Lumet is so aware of his space and handles the camera in a way that you are sitting on the edge of your seat. With top notch… More
  Exquisite! 98% of this film is inside of one room. There is very little physical action and relies primarily on the spoken word. Yet, this is not a bad thing, Lumet is so aware of his space and handles the camera in a way that you are sitting on the edge of your seat. With top notch directing and acting from people like Henry Fonda and Lee Cobb, this film will leave you breathless.

• Aditya G

  
  Brilliance Unlimited: Now here's that kind of a film, writing about which is a major task! Words are not enough to describe this gem, which after 51 years of its release, has stood the test of time..and still packs the punch. All the newfangled courtroom dramas of later times… More
  Brilliance Unlimited: Now here's that kind of a film, writing about which is a major task! Words are not enough to describe this gem, which after 51 years of its release, has stood the test of time..and still packs the punch. All the newfangled courtroom dramas of later times cannot hold a candle to this "classic" in the true sense of the word. I was shocked to read it performed poorly at the box office on initial release, in spite of the huge critical acclaim. The movie, which is the directorial debut of Sidney Lumet, is the film adaptation of Reginald Rose's play. The screenplay for the film was penned by Rose himself. The story is fairly simple, with 12 jurors assigned the task of presenting a verdict on the case of a boy accused of killing his father. What seems to be an open and shut case, takes an ambiguous turn when one of the jurors votes "not guilty" against eleven others voting "guilty". This leads to some immensely gripping and taut drama full of very interesting debate that never lets up until the words "The end" appear on the screen! Wonderfully directed by Sidney Lumet, this is quite possibly the best film of his career. There are lots of unique features of this film. The cast is all-male. None of the character names are revealed (almost). They only have a "juror number" to identify each other by. The entire film (with the exception of a couple of small scenes) is shot in one small Jury Room. The performances are all superb. The most notable ones are those delivered by Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, Joseph Sweeney, George Voskovec, Ed Begley, Jack Warden and Jack Klugman. "12 Angry Men" is a movie that is sure to appeal to every generation. It is one of those "immortal" movies that never age with time! And it is surely an example for all filmmakers and movie-buffs. No special effects, no stunts, no gimmicks...just pure drama, thrilling and powerful! Go and buy the DVD now, and preserve it..for your kids, your grandkids, your great-grandkids...

• Emily A

  
  It's always so nice to see a movie that makes watching impassioned conversations interesting and engaging for an hour and a half. This film could easily be a play (which, I believe it originally was), and is primarily about twelve characters, thier interactions and differing… More
  It's always so nice to see a movie that makes watching impassioned conversations interesting and engaging for an hour and a half. This film could easily be a play (which, I believe it originally was), and is primarily about twelve characters, thier interactions and differing opinions. Unlike most courtroom dramas, absolutely none of this film's running time is spent in the courtroom. All of the evidence so vital to the way these conversations go is reviewed after the fact during those conversations. It's hard not to identify with every character onscreen: every motivation and viewpoint is very clear, and despite them all being conflicting and different, picking a side is damn-near impossible. While Henry Fonda is the biggest star in this picture and gets the most screen time, he is really the least interesting character. He serves as a catalyst for everyone else, and all he had to do was cast the one non-conforming vote. This movie really is quite remarkable.

• Jennifer D

  
  Had to watch it for a Speech class. Not sure why now that I think about it.

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