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Movie Blogs Movie Reminiscences 12 Angry Men (1957) - Reminiscences
Movie Blogs Movie Reminiscences 12 Angry Men (1957) - Reminiscences
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Director - Sidney Lumet
Actors - Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley & Others
Tag line - 1. Life Is In Their Hands -- Death Is On Their Minds!
2....It explodes like twelve sticks of dynamite!
3. They have twelve scraps of paper... twelve chances to kill!
Do you mind watching Black & White movies? Rest assured the movie is a timeless masterpiece? If yes then read below. This masterpiece belongs to Reginald Rose. Can anybody take the risk for a movie during 1957 in one room featuring 12 men with a story which appears fragile & flimsy in the beginning to grip you into the seat? Well I bow my head to the audacity of the story and screenplay writer (Reginald Rose) of this movie. The story begins with the announcement of the hearing of a murder case. The defense and the prosecution have rested and now jury is filing the jury room. The case looks like an open and shut case to all but one. The jury is all set to decide whether the boy is innocent or guilty of murdering his father. The members are locked into the jury room and left to decide. The vote should be of 12:0 to send the boy to the death (electric chair) or 0:12 to completely save the boy & if that’s a hung jury then retrial the boy again.
The members of the jury come from diverse backgrounds. All enter the jury room being supremely confident after hearing the defense and the prosecution statements that the boy is guilty of murdering his father. Most were running on a thin patience line and expecting for a quick release from the holy duty. So they decide for a vote of confidence at the beginning. Only one man dares to defy them all. He neither does have any valid proofs or points nor anybody to support him for his crusade, but he follows his intuition. He explains everybody that he is not convinced as the case proceeded, and the defense lawyer (government appointed) hasn’t done enough to grill the prosecution with questions. He chews all the humility and mockery for standing against the impatient masses. He plays his trump card to get some support. In this process, he garners a sympathy vote from an old man; the old man also makes some uncanny observance and gathers some proof for the innocence of the boy.
They both try to stir the case so much deep that our Sherlock Homes would have been put into shame. We are slowly exposed into the experience and wisdom of the old man. Things start to go unruly and there is a constant confrontation between the members. Remarks, comments are being made in the personal level. Some members try to bully others and start acting like big brothers. But this man doesn’t cares for anybody; he is bang on his target on getting some valid points and to convince the adamant souls that the boy is innocent. Slowly and steadily as the movie progresses the equation starts changing. The votes in favor of the boy being innocent increases. There are some egoistical persons who can’t buy others argument. They are so adamant souls that in spite of all the proofs laid before them, they are unwilling to accept and just drag the confrontation to no end. Some are more interested in publicizing their business than being concerned about the proceedings there. Some just vote with the majority, so that they can get quick release to make time for some damn Ball game.
Some change their opinion like a tennis ball changing the courts. So in all there are variety of people present there and each one exhibits their tendency and motive. In this age of special effects, visual illusions or romantic flicks, hitting the theaters every week. Enjoying this movie will bring some refreshing change to your mind. The movie is like a hot cake which will entertain the audiences of all age and all the time. If you have missed this one (I may be biased for my opinion on classics) but if you are a movie buff, it’s high time to savor this classical masterpiece with mouths wide. Never mind the black & white version, Just watch & enjoy with open mind and see how the art of movie making is redefined. (Post your personal comments about this movie)
Rating - A Masterpiece
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 October 2009 16:10 |
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