Xenon's Classic Movie Review: 12 Angry Men (1208 hits)
Category: Movies & TVRating: 1.28 on 33 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <xenon> (View user info) at 2004-09-24 13:30:21 EDT
To combat the filth and low quality celluloid productions (films) coming out of Hollywood recently, I will be providing my personal insight into some classics. Some will be well known, others not. I hope you enjoy this series. My writing will be purely informational. I prefer a neutral 0 rating if you post comments, but I won't dictate your rating. Now on with the first review...
"12 Angry Men" was released in 1957. The director, Sidney Lumet, chose Henry Fonda in the lead role and protagonist. For this film, Fonda also tried his hand at producing for the first time. He found it to be very displeasing, so he never again produced a film.
The story of the film goes as such:
An 18 year old boy is on trial for the stabbing murder of his father. The jury retires to deliberate the verdict, and the conflict begins. Initially, the group takes a vote by raised hands. The count...11 guilty...1 not guilty. Henry Fonda stands alone arguing that he is not sure that the boy is not guilty, but that he is not convinced beyond a "reasonable doubt" that he is guilty.
The rest of the film showcases every individual in the room's personality. The characters range from loud-mouthed, short-tempered brash ogres to mild-mannered, mousy bankers.
As the film progresses, the arguments become more detailed. The evidence is re-examined intricately. Slowly, the votes begin to change until all but one man has changed his vote.
I won't spoil the ending for you.
If you notice, during the film's progression, the feel seems to become more intimate and claustrophobic. If you feel this way, it isn't your mind deceiving you. Lumet purposefully used progressively longer focal length lenses on his camera to make the viewer feel the intensity and discomfort that is in the room. At the beginning of the film, almost every shot is very wide. Almost too wide. Throughout the deliberation, the shots get tighter and tighter. After the final resolution, the shots are all extremely wide again through the end.
Pay attention to the jurors' faces in the one of the first shots in the court room. The camera does a very slow and deliberate pan down the jury box. If you read the faces of the jurors, you can get a bead on their personalities before they even speak.
The entire film was shot in 21 days and there were 2 weeks of rehearsals prior to shooting.
Henry Fonda did not like to see himself on the screen for this movie. During the first screening, he left part-way through the film. Before leaving, he told Lumet, "Sidney, it's magnificent."
"12 Angry Men" says volumes on social and racial bias and prejudice. It is a film that was ahead of its time. To me, the story itself takes second billing to what you see in each character that is developed. Reginald Rose, the writer of the story, based the screenplay on his personal experience as a juror. It really makes you wonder what his experience was like after seeing the emotions in this film.
Go out and rent "12 Angry Men." It shouldn't be hard to find. I even rented it for free for 2 weeks from my local library. You won't regret it. Keep in mind that it is 50 years old, so the pacing is not MTV style. All of the <18 crowd may not be able to sit still long enough for this one.
X
User Reviews
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-12-16 15:34:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2004-12-15 15:08:01 (#)
Ranking: 0
Rififi
The Maltese Falcon
Psycho
Rear Window
La Dolce Vita
The Seventh Seal
and so many more...don't think I could do justice to a film review. Don't forget early Kubrick.
----------
Ahhh, thanks, that brings a lot to mind.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2004-12-15 15:08:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Rififi
The Maltese Falcon
Psycho
Rear Window
La Dolce Vita
The Seventh Seal
and so many more...don't think I could do justice to a film review. Don't forget early Kubrick.
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-12-10 12:24:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by drstrangedhruv (user info) at 2004-11-09 19:35:45 (#)
Ranking: 2
It's an awesome movie. One of the classics in my DVD collection.
-----------
Any suggestions on what to review now?
I'm looking to do another one over the holidays.
Submitted by drstrangedhruv (user info) at 2004-11-09 19:35:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
It's an awesome movie. One of the classics in my DVD collection.
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-09-28 15:40:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2004-09-28 12:45:29 (#)
Ranking: 0
Good flick, but lacks the direction that I like
For that I'll stay outta the negative
_______
Care to expound?
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2004-09-28 12:45:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Good flick, but lacks the direction that I like
For that I'll stay outta the negative
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-09-28 11:24:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2004-09-28 10:19:05 (#)
Ranking: 2
Lumet fuckin' rules. Ever see 'Dog Day Afternoon'?
__________________________
Nope, tell me about it.
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2004-09-28 10:19:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Lumet fuckin' rules. Ever see 'Dog Day Afternoon'?
Submitted by rurumon (user info) at 2004-09-28 10:02:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I saw 12 angry men for an engineering class as well. I thought it was a decent movie.
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-09-28 09:46:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by I_Have_a_Kristen_Fetish (user info) at 2004-09-27 10:53:11 (#)
Ranking: -2
I had to watch that shit for an Engineering Management class.
Sorry.
Submitted by I_Have_a_Kristen_Fetish (user info) at 2004-09-27 10:53:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I had to watch that shit for an Engineering Management class.
Submitted by gibberish (user info) at 2004-09-25 19:14:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent flick.
Submitted by legallady (user info) at 2004-09-25 19:06:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
FYI:Original movie on cable...FLIX monday September 29 at 8:00
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-09-24 15:55:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by legallady (user info) at 2004-09-24 15:36:25 (#)
Ranking: 2
xenon: I just realize I was signed in under _3...because of a fuckup
a long time ago with my password...i used legallady mostly.
this user link has more posts. and better ones.
Gotcha
Submitted by legallady (user info) at 2004-09-24 15:36:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
xenon: I just realize I was signed in under _3...because of a fuckup
a long time ago with my password...i used legallady mostly.
this user link has more posts. and better ones.
Submitted by tinactin (user info) at 2004-09-24 15:23:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
By the way Xenon, I dont know if you're into comedies, but if so I'd definitely reccomend Shaun of the Dead.
Submitted by legallady_3 (user info) at 2004-09-24 15:16:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Whether you want a 2 or not ...this was very well done.
I love this movie but learned a few things here. Thanks
for the additional insight.
Submitted by tinactin (user info) at 2004-09-24 15:04:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I totally agree. And if you must remake a movie, at least take the plot in an entirely new direction. Try not to rehash a story that has already been told.
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-09-24 14:47:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by tinactin (user info) at 2004-09-24 14:45:02 (#)
Ranking: 0
Did you see the remake of this? It does not do the first film justice.
_______________
Nope. I assume what you're saying is correct. I wouldn't waste my time or money. It's hard to improve on a classic with a remake. The reason it is a classic is because it was so good the first time. Trying to recreate and improve upon it is futile in almost every case.
Submitted by tinactin (user info) at 2004-09-24 14:45:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Did you see the remake of this? It does not do the first film justice.
Submitted by facts (user info) at 2004-09-24 14:28:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
its a good rainy day movie
Submitted by DamienX (user info) at 2004-09-24 14:23:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"...so the pacing is not MTV style. All of the <18 crowd
may not be able to sit still long enough for this one"
Funny, I recently saw "man on fire" with Chris Walken, Mickey Rourke,
and some other guy and I was wondering why they slaughtered an already
barely watchable movie by intermingling the oh-so MTV X-TReMe DiReCTiNG
techniques that make me want to go drink Mountain Dew(c) and say things
like "yo dawg, I think the tracking's fucked"...
Anyway, well done.
Submitted by Lechuga (user info) at 2004-09-24 14:15:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I saw this in 8th grade, and I thought it was good. Here is your 0, like you requested.
Submitted by Badlands (user info) at 2004-09-24 14:14:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow. I've never seen it, but always heard good things. Next rainy day, I'm hittin up Blockbuster.
Submitted by Smurfs (user info) at 2004-09-24 14:01:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
i've been waiting for an excuse to rent this
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-09-24 13:56:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hmmm, never heard of Paths of Glory, but I'll have to try and check it out. Looks good. Even has some serious French bashing from what it sounds like. Me like!
Submitted by ASSMAN (user info) at 2004-09-24 13:53:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
great movie
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2004-09-24 13:44:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Such a great movie...
Submitted by Monarch (user info) at 2004-09-24 13:41:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I know you say only post zeros but...
+2 because EVERYONE needs to watch "12 Angry Men" at least once.
Submitted by potatomanjack (user info) at 2004-09-24 13:38:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That movie was extremely excellent in an awesome sort of kick ass way.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2004-09-24 13:36:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This should be the first of many.
"Paths of Glory."
Submitted by Judoka (user info) at 2004-09-24 13:33:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by comicbookguy (user info) at 2004-09-24 13:32:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
GO TONY DANZA WOO!