12 Angry Men was directed by: Sidney Lumet. Both the story and the screen play were written by: Reginald Rose. Original release date was: July 29, 1957. Even though it was produced in New York, it was first released in Sweden. it was eventually nominated for 3 Oscar's and received many other awards.(2) it is a thought provoking film that takes an honest and believable look at our criminal justice system, with all its imperfections and flaws, and shows with the strength of one juror, justice can prevail. It is also a great look at the subject of group processes, and how the dynamics of personality and background can alter the lens through which each juror sees the evidence. This film takes place in a court room during a hot summer day in New York City.(3) As I try to look at what makes this film so realistic I see that it seems to be happening in real time. In Film Art the authors make the statement," Rarely does a film progress as if in real time. But the 95 minutes it takes to watch the film is the same time the deliberations took(1). Because this film is unfolding in "real time" it brings a sense of reality to the production that few if any films have duplicated. It is possible to really experience the tension as it occurs.

Synopsis: When a young boy from a poor neighborhood is on trial for the first degree murder of his father, the 12 men on the jury are ask to render a verdict. If the verdict is guilty, it will mean certian death for the boy. When the jury men decide to quickly end their discussion and vote; all vote guilty without hesitation, but one(2). The unassuming character played by Henry Fonda. The remainder of the film deals with revelations concerning the characters, as well as new perspectives concerning the evidence in the case. During the rest of the film there is such deliberate precise character development you can not really contunue the synopsis without doing some deep character analysis through out. These 12 men that seem at first have alot in common, soon show as the stroy unfolds just how vast their differences are. Only in the end to be totally turned around in their thinking.

Opinion:

This film is a great example of how humans can impact each other on an unconscious level. Kind of a group think mentality. Not only character development a major focal piont but use of camera angle and movement(or lack of it) tremendously imacts the viewer.

One of my favorite shots is during the first vote, the frame is frozen with 6 jurors hands in the air voting guilty. At this time you see some of the other jurors looking around to see how the others are voting, as in to say there is "truth in numbers".(4)

No one wants to stand out alone, until the one lone juror speaks up.

Notice the slumped and unsure posture as juror # 8 states his position.(4)

One of the better proformances in this film is the character of Henry Fonda, He shows excellent leadership qualities and does not forcefully state that the boy is not guilty. He says simply that he needs to review the evidence. This gives him a more nutral position and allows others to question the evidence without seeming to take sides. This is the truest from of deplomacy and is an xample of how democracy should work. In this film we get the best examples of human narue and some that are not so good, but all very human none the less.

(1) Bordwell,David. Thompson, Kristin. (2008). Film Art: An Introduction. 8th Ed. McGraw Hill, New York, NY

(2). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/ 

(3).http://www.answers.com/topic/twelve-angry-men-play-6

(4)http://www.scribd.com/doc/5171/Group-Dynamics-in-the-movie-12-Angry-Men.