Now this is acting!!

Rating: 7/10 (28 February 2004)

'12 Angry Men' is not quite the astoundingly great film it's made out to be, but it's definitely one of the measuring sticks for ensemble acting to this day. Great acting all around and superb direction from Sidney Lumet, who never made a better film in his career. This movie is basically one long scene, and it never gets boring. Some of the arguments about the trial are really stretching, but in the end, the trial is not even what the film is all about. Fonda is great, as always, but the glory here goes to Lee J. Cobb. Cobb is a powerhouse and probably was never better - 'On the Waterfront' included.
8 out of 10