Watch 12 Angry Men
- Approved
- 1957
- 1 hr 36 min
-
9.0 (886,741)
12 Angry Men is a classic 1957 courtroom drama film directed by Sidney Lumet that revolves around a heated jury deliberation in a murder trial. The movie stars the likes of Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, and several other veteran actors who put up stellar performances throughout the film's runtime. The movie begins with the jurors reaching the verdict of a murder trial that has been sensationalizing the media. Eleven of the jurors unanimously find the defendant - an 18-year-old boy - guilty of killing his father with a switchblade knife, seemingly without any reasonable doubt. But one juror, identified as Juror 8 (played by Fonda), dissents and tries to persuade his peers to come to an impartial decision.
Juror 8's dissent invites the wrath of the other jurors, who are all convinced of the defendant's guilt. As the deliberations commence, Juror 8 begins to highlight the inconsistencies in the prosecution's case, which gives rise to reasonable doubt. One by one, the other jurors begin to question their convictions, and in the process, their prejudices and biases are exposed.
Throughout the film, the tension in the deliberation room continues to rise as tempers flare, and personal conflicts between the jurors surface. However, Juror 8 remains calm and objective, slowly but steadily convincing the others of the defendant's innocence.
The movie is an excellent commentary on the American justice system, which frequently devolves into a matter of winning and losing rather than getting to the truth. The 12 jurors in the movie are an epitome of the flaws in a system that is meant to be fair and impartial.
Henry Fonda's performance as Juror 8 is the highlight of the film. Fonda plays the role with a quiet intensity that is both convincing and riveting. His arguments are grounded in facts and logic and not over emotionalism, which helps the others who were originally against him come around to his side.
Lee J. Cobb, who plays the role of Juror 3 - one of the most outspoken jurors - also delivers an outstanding performance. His character's conflict with Juror 8 is an excellent representation of the inner battles that people often face when presented with conflicting viewpoints.
Overall, 12 Angry Men is a thought-provoking movie that captures the essence of the American justice system. The movie is brilliantly scripted and meticulously directed, making it a must-watch for anyone who is interested in courtroom dramas.
In conclusion, 12 Angry Men is a riveting courtroom drama that features a cast of exceptional actors delivering outstanding performances. The movie is engaging, suspenseful, and offers an eye-opening look at the American justice system.
12 Angry Men is a 1957 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received outstanding reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 9.0 and a MetaScore of 97.