Unexpectedly engaging movie

Rating: 8/10 (12 November 2016)

12 Angry Men is about a jury of twelve who has to unanimously decide on a verdict – one that could end the life of an 18-year-old. They are tasked to decide if the boy is guilty of stabbing his father to death and if there is any reasonable doubt, it should result in a verdict of not guilty. The movie is set in the juror's room, with arguments consuming time and causing frustration amidst the sweltering heat. Of the twelve jurors, only Juror 8 votes not guilty, incurring the wrath of the others. He then negotiates with the other jurors until eventually, all are convinced that there is reasonable doubt of the boy's guilt.
Initially, I did not have much expectations about the movie, as it was in black-and-white and majority of the film was set in a single setting – the Juror's room. However, I quickly became intrigued by the movie and I found myself rooting for Juror 8 to successfully convince all to vote 'not guilty'. This was an insightful film that touched on topics such as stereotypes, race, justice and humanity. Definitely worth watching, a breath of fresh air amidst the usual action-packed movies of today.