Where do I start? 

What a film this was. I am blown away by how good of a picture 12 Angry Men is, it’s phenomenal. Frankly I’m mad at myself for taking so long to see it but to be fair to myself I think I may have seen it at the right time. I feel like I was able to appreciate this film a lot more because I’m a bit older. 

I had gone through a Henry Fonda phase a few years ago where all I watched would be his movies. I think I re-watched The Grapes of Wrath 5-6 times that summer. For some reason though I never got around to 12 Angry Men. It didn’t help that I didn’t own the movie but I also didn’t make an effort to seek it out. 

This week I signed up for a free trial of the Criterion Channel. I’ve always wanted the actual Criterion edition of this film to appreciate it but when I got the service I assumed it would be on for viewing. Of course it was. So I took the brisk 97 minutes to watch it and I am blown away. 

Sidney Lumet directed this movie to a T. It is the most well executed script and film I’ve seen in a long long time, if not the most well executed. For a single location the film flows like a smooth creek. Each scene or, sequence, plays into the next with meaning. Each scene is built upon to tell us an overall story and have us too grow and change with the characters as we continue to consume the new perspectives each juror brings. It’s exceptional. From the fantastic acting to the systemic editing and poignant cinematography. Each piece came together to tell us a highly relevant story about so much more than just right and wrong. 

The subtle yet vocal racism strewn throughout this film is not so much stated but implied, for the most part. It isn’t until the very end that we finally learn the true colours of one of the jurors. In such a powerful scene too. It’s a very strong commentary on the social climate of the time and even today it’s as relevant as ever. Art is timeless and this film has transcended time. In fact it’s one of the most inherently human films I’ve ever seen. 

Fantastic film. An automatic top 5 film for me if I’m being Honest.