A must watch for those who appreciate simple but impactful cinema

Rating: 9/10 (24 August 2015)

This movie accomplishes something in the fact that the whole drama in the movie takes place in a courtroom.The story is simple but told in an interesting way. For example, the way the professions of the characters are disclosed at different intervals during the conversation.It feels as if the movie is shot in real time. The performances are great. The day is hot,which adds to the intensity and frustration of the drama in it's own way.
The movie is not about right or wrong. The viewer is never told whether the boy actually killed his father or not. That is for the viewer to decide. But it definitely raises some questions on the legal system. The term 'reasonable doubt' is ambiguous. We are not shown any legal discussions in the court. While giving judgement, the judge himself seems bored yet claims the case to be complex. Juror no. 3 in the starting claims to 'almost fell asleep' during the trial while another feels 'lucky' to get a murder case, as other cases might be boring. Yet all these people except juror no. 8(Henry Fonda) vote the boy as guilty without giving a second thought. While some jurors are open to ideas and are 'reasonable', other have preconceived notions and are biased due to their personal experiences( juror no. 3 or 10).
The vote which begins from 11 to 1 against the boy gradually shifts to 12 to none in favour of the boy. This itself is unsettling. The fate of a man's life is left in the hands of 12 people, who completely change their decisions in a couple of hours. The movie has been written brilliantly and beautifully performed,giving the viewers an engaging experience.