Seat-grabber worth your time

Rating: 10/10 (22 April 2018)

Going in thinking 12 Angry Men was a lame black and white film I had to watch for an assignment, I didn't think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. Even though the film was set in one location, there was never a dull point and the conversations and debates between the jurors were always so intense and exciting.
The film uses the decision-making process of 12 jurors to bring us on a roller-coaster of emotions. In the short one hour and 36 minutes, many uncomfortable issues were brought to light. This included discrimination, racism, and even more personal problems like self-purpose and worth. All these issues were presented to the audience in a very bite-sized way, with each juror embodying one, allowing us to see the parallels in our own lives.
What I found most interesting was how the importance of being a good negotiator shined through for me in the film. 12 Angry Men was able to portray the wide spectrum of negotiators, from skilled and objective negotiators, to hot-headed and ego-centric ones. Through them, we were able to see the repercussions of allowing our emotions and personal pre-conceived notions overwhelm our decisions. I learnt to not be so quick to judge and to always consider the possibility of alternatives before being certain about something. There will always be things that we will not see or know.
But yes, all in all, I truly enjoyed the movie as it left me thinking about the uncomfortable issues that we may not always want to deal with. I totally recommend watching this, even if you are someone who is not into older films. It's definitely worth your time!