Amazing movie!

Rating: 9/10 (25 March 2018)

12 Angry Men is a film that illustrates the diversity present in the society that we live in, and how the discordant ideas of people can fuel but also complicate negotiations. Although somewhat unrealistic due to extremely polar depictions of human behaviour, the movie manages to capture the characteristics of people from different walks of life, manifested in each of the twelve jurors.
Some analysis with minor spoilers!!
Juror #8, the "hero" of the movie, displays objectivity and empathy, and gradually earns respect as a leader. From the outset, although ridiculed and singled out by the other eleven, he was unmoving with his open-minded stance that the boy deserved a fair chance to be acquitted. As Fisher and Ury put it in the book "Getting To Yes", "Never yield to pressure, only to principle". He believed in using "fair standards", thus he attempted to rally the others to be empathetic. If they were in the boy's situation, wouldn't they want their jury to be impartial and take their jobs seriously, especially since a life is at stake? Using the "principle of reciprocity", he brought awareness to the consequences of the decision, subtly appealing to those more rational. Being grounded and respected helps a lot when negotiating, because humans naturally tend to trust and follow someone they respect. In negotiations, the only certainty is that we will encounter a vast array of backgrounds, personalities, and ideologies. Despite being the cardinal concern over the course of the film, the reality of guilt or innocence turns out unimportant. Exemplifying how a diverse group of people can reach a unanimous, amicable decision, 12 Angry Men serves as a reminder that a wide range of perspectives, as well as positive negotiation skills, are crucial in any negotiation.