A brilliant film about negotiation and the workings of law

Rating: 10/10 (5 November 2018)

"12 Angry Men" is a 1957 American courtroom drama film adapted from a teleplay of the same name by Reginald Rose. The film describes the story of a 12-men jury in a New York City courthouse deliberating the case of an 18-year-old Hispanic slum-born boy who had allegedly stabbed his father to death. The objective criterion used was reasonable doubt - that is, if the jury had any reasonable doubt as to the culpability of the boy, they were to return a verdict of not guilty. Conversely, if the jury had no reasonable doubt as to how culpable the boy was, they were to return a verdict of guilty, and the boy would be sentenced to death accordingly.
"12 Angry Men" compellingly explores many powerful techniques of negotiation - that is, how to build consensus amongst a group of people with starkly different personalities and worldviews. "12 Angry Men" is an outstanding masterpiece of a film that has withstood the test of time. The film relies less on elaborate special effects and costumes but impresses all the same simply because of the excellent plot and consummate acting.
"12 Angry Men" is a film highly recommended to people young and old. Because it is a courtroom drama, "12 Angry Men" may be especially interesting to law students, lawyers and those interested in the workings of law.