Twelve Angry Men

Originally penned by Reginald Rose as a play (and appeared on television in 1954), the script was left virtually intact in its move to film, with a change of director and cast. This minimalist approach served the film well and made for a claustrophobic intensity as the story progressed. You could almost feel the heat of the non air-conditioned room and the heightened emotions of the jurors.

But before tensions rise, we are shown the usual apathetic state of business as usual within the justice system. A bored judge reads off the litany of information for the jury, and the men file in sure of themselves and willing to sentence a young man to die in 5 minutes. They treat the trial as if it were a sporting event and rate the attorneys for who provided the better performance. When one man votes not guilty, the chorus of complaints begin, from those who carefully listened to the trial and thought the defendant guilty to those who simply want to get out in time to get back to work or a ba...