"12 Angry Men" - A masterpiece.

I find it a rather funny coincidence that two of the best films I saw for the first time this year both involved courtroom dramas, even though they're in completely different genres: My Cousin Vinny and 12 Angry Men.

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While I'd always heard great things about 12 Angry Men, I was a little intimidated by the idea that this film was released in 1957, and honestly, I thought it would be a bit heavier.

However, while its simple story is deeply rooted in the time in which it was created, there's something indescribable about its writing that gives it an absolute timelessness, and it's one of those works that has so many hits that it's hard to even find anything to say about it.

Its premise is simple: we follow 12 men who make up the jury in the case of the alleged murder of a man by his son, an 18-year-old boy who seems to have all the evidence against him.

The problem is that for the judge to render a verdict, the entire jury must agree on whether the boy is guilty or not.

12 Angry Men exploits this concept perfectly, immersing us in the psyche of the jury and allowing us, like the characters on it, to gradually form our own opinions.

This is not only extremely accurate from an American procedural law perspective, but also allows for a brilliant study of morality where, regardless of the subject's guilt or not, a group of people has absolute control over a life.

Although the men who make up the jury are nameless, the hour and a half of footage is more than enough to subtly expose us to all the conflicts surrounding their lives. We understand their points of view (some much more controversial than others) and enjoy the exchange of ideas, almost becoming accomplices in the decision that will be made in the end.

Beyond its thematic aspects, this is an impeccable film from an audiovisual perspective. Every moment is masterfully recorded, the music is sparse but impactful, and the performances are perfectly complemented by one of the best scripts I've ever seen.

After a couple of months in which most of the movies I've seen have been disappointing, I'm glad to have found a palate cleanser in 12 Angry Men, and I have no doubt that it has earned a place among my all-time favorites.

This score was taken from my Letterboxd account.