Not all plays transition well to the big screen. Movies have the ability to do things a stage performance can't, and vice versa. Occasionally, a simple stage act can come alive on film, without losing it's look and feel. This certainly is apparent in our selection for this week, the 1957 Sidney Lumet classic, "12 Angry Men."
"12 Angry Men" tells the story of a courtroom jury hearing a murder case. The film begins after both sides have presented their cases, and the fate of the defendant is in the hands of the jury. Most of the jurors just want to wrap things up fairly quickly, and hand down a guilty verdict. One juror, played by Henry Fonda, wants to take things a little slower, and examine the case. The jurors face flaring tempers from one another and have sort of a cabin fever being sequestered for so long. Acting out scenarios throughout the trial and trying to put aside personal prejudices towards one another, the jurors begin to see things in a new light, and come together for the common man.
Almost the entire movie takes place in one scene...the jurors room. Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and on the AFI's list of Greatest Movies of all time. "12 Angry Men" demonstrates when you combine a solid script with a strong cast, you can produce a superb film. Considered a classic, "12 Angry Men" is a must see. Until next time happy viewing.
Joe Talmage
webmoviepick@gmail.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7CBKT0PWFA
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