Brilliant direction and performances

Rating: 10/10 (22 February 2019)

I saw 12 Angries for the 4th time last night. I knew every line and reaction and was still engrossed to the end. The are maybe a couple dozen movies I can say that about.
To be honest, I think some of the dialog and a couple of the plot points are weak, but Lumet's direction keeps the movie moving seamlessly forward. All the actors are good, with Ed Begley, EG Marshall and Henry Fonda particularly so. It is Lee J. Cobb, however, that stands out for me. So powerful yet nuanced. Near the end, after Cobb recounts "every single" reason he thinks the kid is guilty, John Fiedler says "You said we could throw out all the other evidence"
Cobb's reaction of bewilderment and frustration rang so true I have a hard time believing he was acting.
A fun exercise is to figure out the juror you most identify with. For me it is Fonda. Thoughtful, respectful, balanced, and cautious. Sometimes to a fault.