A near-flawless masterpiece. Since I started watching classic films in May of 2007, I’ve been treated to some truly great films but absolutely nothing has affected me the way that 12 Angry Men did. For about 98% of the film, we’re in the presence of twelve men in a jury room debating a case that starts with eleven men saying “guilty” and ending with something entirely unexpected as these men deliberate back and forth with convincing argument and passionate debate for an hour and a half. Henry Fonda was the one “star” of the film back in the day, but it’s difficult to watch the movie now without recognizing at least a few others in the cast. Martin Balsam (Psycho), Jack Warden, and E.G. Marshall were familiar faces, to name a few. Every single actor in this movie is absolutely superb, but it’s the sparkling script by Reginald Rose that makes this movie so memorable. I was happy to learn that the case that these men debate is a lot more interesting than I thought it may be, concerning a young 18-year-old and a possible murder. The moment when Fonda puts in his “Not Guilty” vote and says something like, “Look, this is a man’s life here, I think he deserves an hour of discussion before we send him to the death chair.” I instantly knew where the movie was headed, but it was the journey that made it so fulfilling. Maybe the most astonishing thing about this movie is that Sidney Lumet directed. Lumet, who directed one of the best movies of 2007 (Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead) started his prolific and astonishing career with 12 Angry Men at the age of 33. All but one of the actors in the film are dead, but Lumet is still kicking, and still making great, great films! Amazing. This film proves that a movie doesn’t need exotic locations and special effects to be entertaining. I’d have to say I was more involved in this movie, where twelve men talk for an hour and a half, than I have been in any other movie this year (well, except for Dark Knight, but that’s a different story!). The film ends on an absolutely perfect note. Throughout the movie, we don’t get to learn the names of anyone. As Henry Fonda’s character leaves the courtroom after delivering the verdict, he bumps into one of the other jurors. They exchange their names. “Well, so long,” the juror says. “So long,” says the Fonda character. Perfect! I’m already looking forward to watching this one again. It’s simply one of the best films ever made.