12 Angry Men (1957) Reviews

Years ago I read this as a script for a play and somehow missed that it was a movie. My spouse and I watched it and thoroughly enjoyed it. You don't get to see many examples of great character study in modern movies. Here there are 12 characters and all are together as jurors considering whether an 18-year-old young man is guilty of murdering his abusive father. Additional drama is added in that if found guilty death by electric chair is mandatory. Many issues arise -- what are the responsibilities of a juror, how does personal prejudice play into our decisions, what does 'reasonable doubt' mean, and how hard it is to stand against opposition. All is presented in an interesting and fascinating movie that is well worth watching. The statements and the characters will stay with you long after the movie is over.
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