12 talented actors, 1 very simple set and no special effects

Rating: 9/10 (16 August 2014)

Produce under good direction. Serves millions. Seriously, this film is awesome. A jury has to decide a seemingly open and shut case of a young guy who has been accused of murdering his father in a fit of anger. The evidence couldn't be clearer that this guy killed him. Murder weapon, motive, eyewitness testimony all in place. One juror (H. Fonda) however, wants to talk the case out. He's not 100% convinced that the boy did it. And so everything starts. An emotional roller coaster follows as we learn about the jurors, their reasons for voting as they do and how they are forced to re-evaluate the evidence. Part of the charm of this film is it's starkness. 98% of the film takes place in one room; the jury room, a simple set consisting of little more than a table, 12 chairs, some windows and a fan. The best part, in my opinion, is the character development of the jurors. When the movie begins, they are just 12 unknown characters. Even though none of the jurors are named, in the end of the movie, you feel as if you know and understand every one of them. Truly a remarkable piece of movie history and well worth repeated viewings.