EXCELLENT...no other word for it

Rating: 10/10 (14 October 2001)

I rarely give a film a '10.' But, this film with absolutely no weak spots deserved it. Everything works. All of the actors are great. The film has a darkness to it, a quiet gray sense of hopelessness, as boring as a New York summer day, hot, humid and dark. The weariness fades as the various members of the jury reveal bits and pieces of themselves as the plot unfolds and the wave of change sparked by new awareness begins to sweep the dreary juryroom. The jurymen begin to lose their apathy, antipathy and conflicted, convoluted attitudes. As the action goes on, each man must confront himself, his own values and his own fears, prejudices and weaknesses. The ending is a triumph for all of us. Reginald Rose not only put together a flawless thriller but look at that cast. Not a cull in the bunch. Several went on to establish themselves as character actors, e.g., John Fiedler, Robert Webber, Edward Binns, George Voscovec and Joseph Sweeney. Some others were already stars in their own right, Ed Begly Jr., Lee J. Cobb, Henry Fonda and others, Jack Klugman, Jack Warden, E.G. Marshall and Martin Balsam went on to achieve stardom in films and TV. All were veteran character actors who add a ring of credulity to their roles. Rarely, indeed, only in a great once in a while, does it all come together as is does in this film.