Lady Chance went to bed early (being six months pregnant she does that) and I had 12 Angry Men from Netflix…
That may be one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. Truly.
I mean astonishing.
And not just the script, though that’s excellent. Everything from the acting, to the way the shots were framed and the way different groups of men were highlighted in differing dominant/submissive positions depending on the point in the plot.
I mean, dear God what a picture. This really touched me.
The film is used to highlight the different styles of the Managerial Grid in training classes. It’s really interesting to note how closely some of the jury match those categories, and quite a springboard for group discussion. It’s a great depiction of clashing personalities.
I agree, terrific movie. It was recommended to me by a writing teacher who touted it as a great example of tight storytelling. Now, a *different * teacher told me that the standard Hollywood script format says you should present your “situation” in a movie within the first ten minutes. And if you watch most standard Hollywood movies, it’s true. Time it. Within 10 minutes you will know what the “challenge” is for the lead characters. (Oh, she’s a spoiled brat who’s in love with a man who’s about to marry another…oh, this town has a man-eating shark at its beach…) In 12 Angry Men, the “challenge” is presented within, like, the first 60 seconds! They gotta come up with a verdict.
The challenge is met.
The movie ENDS.
Nothing extraneous at all in this film. Hell, it all takes place in one room!!!
I rarely disagree with you on stuff like this Bryan, but yu are SO off on this. In fact, Fonda’s cool reply, “You don’t really mean that, do you?” after he wound up Lee Cobb was just perfect, one of my all time cinema favorite moments.
It’s the understatedness of Fonda’s performance that impacted me the most. He becomes the central figure simple by being quiet most of the time. That’s quite an accomplishment.
A point I was thinking of was how much of it did Fonda’s character manipulate? Was it planned or did he truly play it by ear.
I would take it at face value except that that last glance back at the jury room after they reach a verdict. Everyone else has left and Fonda stops at the door and glances back to take in the room one last time.
That particular line struck me as kinda smug, actually. I guess Fonda just annoys me for some reason. I did enjoy a line that comes from one of the jurors after Begley has his rant: “Sit down, and don’t open your mouth again…”
I first saw it in an argumentation class. Its one of those movies that is a good film on its own - and a good teaching tool for things like debate, personalities, argumentation.
