Wednesday, April 14, 2010

12 Angry Men

Origin: U.S(Orion-Nova) 1957
Length: 96 minutes
Format: Black & White
Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Henry Fonda, Reginald Rose
Screenplay: Reginald Rose
Photography: Boris Kaufman
Music: Kenyon Hopkins
Cast: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E.G. Marshall, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Jack Klugman, Ed Binns, Joseph Sweeney, George Voskovec, Robert Webber
Oscar Nominations: Henry Fonda, Reginald Rose(best picture), Sidney Lumet(director), Reginald Rose(screenplay)
Berlin International Film Festival: Sidney Lumet(Golden Bear, OCIC Award)
Links: 12 Angry Men Wiki

Sidney Lumet's courtroom drama enjoys enduring popularity because it is a hothouse for smart performances, sudden twists, and impassioned monologues. Uniquely, the brilliantly economical and riveting drama of 12 Angry Men does not actually take place in the courtroom- except for a brief prologue as the jury is sent out with the judge's instructions - but during a single, sweltering afternoon in the jury room.

Lumet's much loved, engrossing debut film makes no apologies for its theatricality but makes a virtue of its claustrophobic, sweaty intensity. And each actor makes his mark in this showcase of superb characterizations and ensemble dynamics, from Martin Balsam's insecure foreman to a leonine Lee J. Cobb's belligerent, embittered Juror #3. Class and ethnic prejudices, private assumptions, and personalities all come out in a colossal struggle for unclouded judgment. The film won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival but its greatest accolade is that after seeing this picture no one ever enters into jury duty without fantasizing about becoming a dogged champion of justice a la Fonda, whatever the case at hand.



Review coming soon...

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