Oh the heat!

Rating: 10/10 (13 November 2005)

One of the best things about the movie is the way the temperature rises along with the tension, until the rainstorm begins - and with the rain, the jurors are themselves prisoners until they can agree a verdict. And the way the characters interact is as good as any movie I can think of. And Lee J Cobb's performance is stunning - as different from many other roles he played as can be. His portrayal of anger and frustration is outstanding. Henry Fonda is as assured as usual - the voice of reason - but Cobb plays a man driven by his own demons who finally breaks, and as he does so, the jury are at last speaking with one voice. Keeping the cast almost exclusively in the same room serves well to heighten the tense animosities which stretch and test the will of each participant.