12 Angry Men (1957)

In this article, we will be looking at 2019’s book “1001 Movies to See Before You Die” and going through each film in a random order that I have chosen. We will be looking at what constitutes this film to be on the list and whether I think this film deserves to be here at all. I want to make perfectly clear that I won’t be revealing details from this book such as analyses by film reporters who have written about the film in question, so if you want the book itself you’ll have to buy it. But I will be covering the book’s suggestions on which films should be your top priority. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that everyone reading this article has probably watched many of these movies anyway. But we are just here to have a bit of fun. We’re going to not just look at whether it should be on this list but we’re also going to look at why the film has such a legacy at all. Remember, this is the 2019 version of the book and so, films like “Joker” will not be featured in this book and any film that came out in 2020 (and if we get there, in 2021). So strap in and if you have your own suggestions then don’t hesitate to email me using the address in my bio. Let’s get on with it then.

12 Angry Men (1957) dir. by Sidney Lumet

Voted as the 2nd best American Courtroom Drama of all time, only losing to “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1963). It is about a group of men sitting in room voting on whether a young man should get the death penalty or not, despite the accused stating that he didn’t do it. Forced to confront their prejudices and moral values, the film makes great references to the courtroom process and well, it did its job without really moving out of one room.

In 2007, it was selected for the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress as being culturally important and of value. It is listed as one of Roger Ebert’s great movies and AFI stated that it was the 42nd most inspiring movie of all time. And, based on over 50 reviews, it holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average standing somewhere by nine out of ten.

In the three categories it was nominated for at its year in the Academy Awards, it lost all of its three nominations to “Bridge on the River Kwai”. However, in difference to the AFI list of American Courtroom Dramas where it is rated as the second greatest of all time, Rotten Tomatoes rated “12 Angry Men” as the greatest American Courtroom Drama of all time. Considered one of the greatest films ever made, it has been shown numerous times in schools in Britain and the USA with some supreme court justice members citing it as the inspiration for them to get into law and court order as a career.

Let’s have a look at a personal anecdote. I watched this film when I was sixteen years’ old and I was absolutely inspired but not in the way of law. I was inspired to see the way in which it took an entire film and filmed it, albeit three minutes, in the same room. There’s a certain claustrophobia to all these personalities being in the same room at the same time basically shouting at each other at the beginning and then it seems to reach a height before collapsing in on itself in a classic realist fashion.

I’m not going to lie, there is something compelling about this movie that keeps bringing you back to it. Every time you watch it, there’s a new personality you can concentrate on and how the story seems to include every juror is so smooth. The film flows with such ease and precision even though there are so many clashing personalities and when it comes to the story, we learn parts about it along the way. It truly is a classic of cinema and yet, not many people have actually watched it. If you’re from the younger generation (Z), can you do me a favour and find this movie, watch it and then review what you think about it? I would be amazed to see what you think about the dialogue, the story and the interactions between characters. I honestly believe it is one of the greatest films ever made and there is no doubt about its impact.