Excellent and suspenseful, with a great plot!

Rating: 9/10 (16 November 2016)

This movie turned out to be way better than expected, and shows that you do need a huge budget or tons of special effects to make a good film.
The film begins at the end of the trial, and the 12 jurors are given the responsibility to come to a unanimous decision on whether the boy is guilty of murder. However, the court case just sets the context. The highlight of this film is the negotiation process.
Each of the characters are well-developed, with their individual personalities and backgrounds. Initially, the vote was 11:1 in favour of guilty and the audience can feel the discomfort of juror #8 who voted otherwise. The tension in the room grows as emotions escalate and things get heated up. Each juror has their own prejudices and interests, and these are revealed as the deliberation goes on.
The interaction between the jurors, as well as how juror #8 skillfully influences his other jurors to reconsider their previous positions, gives us some insights on what affects our decisions as well as some tips on effective negotiation.
The excellent dialogue and cast kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the film. I would definitely watch this again.