12 Angry Men - Movie Review

Rating: 10/10 (26 April 2020)

I have seen 12 Angry Men a few times in my life, but it had been a number of years since my last rewatch and I decided to give it another go after hearing several people call it one of the greatest films ever made. I remember enjoying it previously, but not on the same level as other people seemed to.
Now, I can safely say that's it's in my top 20 films of all time. The film is pure genius, and managed to keep me completely hooked with just twelve people in one room, talking for 96 minutes. It's a staggering accomplishment.
They also managed to give a lot of the characters some fleshing-out, which was impressive. This doesn't happen for all of them, and that's fine because I didn't expect it, but they do show us how some of their personal lives are influencing their decision on whether the boy on trial is guilty or not guilty, and that added another layer to an already incredible film.
The acting is outstanding, the direction is slick, and the narrative does such a remarkable job at keeping the audience invested. We don't get all of the answers to the case by the end of the film, which I can see irritating some people, but that's not what the film is about. Within the confines of whether the boy on trial is guilty or not guilty, and the way they go through each of the facts and dispute them or back them up, is masterfully done and I couldn't get enough.
Overall, 12 Angry Men is the best black-and-white film I have ever seen, with a compelling narrative and I loved that the film encourages the audience to try and solve the mystery alongside them. It makes us wonder what we would vote for, if we were in their situation. If you're a film buff, this is one that you can't afford to miss.
SCORE: 100%