12 Angry Men1957

99/100 Complete and utter masterpiece at every level. There are so many films I say that for, but this is where I mean it perhaps the most. One of the best and most engaging films I have ever watched. The characters will almost always be the best part of a good film, and its no different here. Each juror has their own distinct personality, and even though the main focus is obviously on the eighth and third juror as the respective protagonist and antagonist, everyone feels like the protagonist in their own way. The dialogue is great as well. Its both realistic as well as managing to make it feel intriguing. Its just one and a half hours of people talking, but it feels genuinely as engaging as any other thriller, even if we're just in a courtroom. Of course, this is all thanks to the people behind the film. Sidney Lumet knows how to shoot the film and directs these performances really well. The casting is of course perfect, especially Henry Fonda as the eighth juror. As a sidenote, I love how the most intelligent and diligent of the jurors is an architect, a profession not usually of high regard. Of course, the film's main theme is that of due process and "reasonable doubt", executed brilliantly. We will never know whether the accused is innocent or not, though I personally think he's guilty, but it really doesn't matter. The film questions whether it's right to send a man to his death when there is even a small doubt as to his guiltiness. This is a masterpiece, truly, and perhaps one of the best written movies I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. At the risk of repeating myself, truly amazing. Check it out if you haven't.