"According to the testimony, the boy looks guilty... MAYBE he is."

Rating: 9/10 (8 January 2017)

12 ANGRY MEN is a courtroom drama. The power of human emotions, convincing and tense dialogues and almost perfect characterization are the biggest advantages of this film. The entire film takes place in a jury room. It is the hottest day of the year. The boy is accused for killing his own father. Jurors casually, cracking jokes, enter the hot and stuffy room. The case is crystal clear. The capital punishment is the only logical option. However, juror number 8 does not think so...
I think that the most important detail in the film is face of the defendant. The boy is distraught, desperate and scared. Viewers are confronted with the terrifying truth in the next moment. The life of a boy was placed in the hands of passionate people who are prejudiced.
The story is honest. I think the point is not to prove innocence or guilt in this movie. The theme of this film is the jury. Jurors are people. People of different profiles, personal problems and strange initiatives.
Juror number 8 (Henry Fonda) is calm and rational man who wants to examine every possible "reasonable suspicion" before a final decision. He is not the voice of reason. He is a man who does not want someone's death on his hands, if there is still room for a review of the evidence.
Juror number 3 (Lee J. Cobb) is probably the most complex character in this film. A businessman who hardly hides his passion and partiality. I can not describe his character as a negative. He is a man who is lost in his own drama.
Juror number 4 (E.G. Marshall) is a man full of self-confidence and arrogance. The insensitivity is visible in his character. The logic and intelligence are his advantages.
Juror number 7 (Jack Warden) is a man who does not have an opinion on this case. Baseball, heat and ventilator, that does not work, are more important than the boy's life. It is important to be part of the majority.
Juror number 9 (Joseph Sweeney) is a wise old man who has a lot of life experience and a keen sense for perception on seemingly trivial things.
Juror number 11 (George Voskovec) is careful and methodical man. He is ready to consider and accept everyone's opinion.
Juror number 12 (Robert Webber) was a young businessman who has probably formed an opinion on the case, but he is afraid to publicly express it, because his intelligence could become questionable.
Juror number 2 (John Fiedler) is an eloquent accountant, but apparently not loud enough.
Juror number 5 (Jack Klugman) comes from the same environment as the accused boy. There is a reasonable possibility that he had a similar experience in his youth. He approaches the case on an ironic way, but quickly recognized his mistake.
Juror number 1 (Martin Balsam) is an athlete, who heads the jury, although he did not realize the complexity of the situations in which they find themselves.
Juror number 6 (Edward Binns) is a house painter. He is a simple man who respects his associates. However, he has a very strong sense of justice that he wants to see in this case.
Juror number 10 (Ed Begley) is a real loudmouth who is eager to impose his views to others. This attitude awakened extremely ill intent in one man.
All the actors were up to the task. Mr. Fonda is the central figure, but all the other characters are getting their 5 minutes.
Body language, sharp dialogue and hot atmosphere are the initiators of the enormous tension in this film. I do not think that this film is a masterpiece of realism. Mr. Lumet showed emotions, prejudices and feelings through the conflict of opinions in a raw and a somewhat realistic way. Despite the scorching heat, sweating, nervousness, yelling, scheming and frustrations angry people arguing in a small room. They discuss the life of a young person.
However, I am pleased with the sincere dialogue, tense atmosphere and provocative drama.