"12 Angry Men" (1957) Watch Along
Added 2024-04-15 16:00:14 +0000 UTCOOHH! What an amazing movie! I was hooked right from the start! The camera work had me from the opening scene. I also love jury duty... I know I am soo weird. I had no IDEA what this movie was about going in and I was captivated and blown away by the story/script and acting (basically everything in this movie). I loved that the rain and the heat played a massive role in this film and that the camera did so much work it felt like it was the 13th man in the room. The camera work mixed with the blocking in a single setting worked so well to show power shifts and dynamics! I thought the characters where so full, alive and nuanced and I have now placed this movie on the "One of The Best Movies I've Ever Seen" List! Thanks to Juror #8 and #9. Powerful stuff. Loved it.
Let me know your thoughts down below!!!!
xx
ames
Comments
Cool! I should get the CC disk
Amalia Wolf
2025-03-10 04:02:34 +0000 UTCI love this film!
Amalia Wolf
2025-03-10 04:02:18 +0000 UTCIt’s sooo good!
Amalia Wolf
2025-03-10 04:02:08 +0000 UTCThis is one of the best Movies, i have ever seen and i watch it nearly every year. I tried the TV Remake with no good expectations, mainly for the interesting Cast with Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott. To my surprise, it is nearly as brilliant as the Original. Almost a similar Copy, but in his own way very good. No one needed it, but it is very solid and i stayed glued to it till the End. Pleasant surprise.
Michael Lovecraft
2025-03-09 23:28:49 +0000 UTCThis is one of my top three films. I watch it at least once every couple of months, but I overwatch films like you would not believe. You have definitely seen juror 4 before, the one with the glasses. He plays Grandpa Art in 'Christmas Vacation' with Chevy Chase. Considering how much I watch both of those films, I was ashamed how long it took me to realize that. I'm sure by now you've picked up on juror 1 as the detective in Psycho, and the extremely angry juror 3 is the detective in the Exorcist. I was so sad that you missed the explanation at the beginning of why juror 3 was at odds with his son. It's such a major plot point in the film. You were still way better than anyone else I've seen at picking up on the tension and understanding how personal the case was to him. Usually whenever I see someone miss his story, they miss the entire plot and it's so sad, because his breakdown at the end is so very emotional. I always tear up. It was also great hearing your commentary on all the characters, because this honestly is a film with some of the best characters, especially since you never fully get to know any of them. They're exposed slowly through tiny little bits and it's very interesting because most of them aren't actually prejudiced. They honestly believe the boy is guilty, they just aren't taking the time to consider it until they're pushed. I could talk about this film forever, seriously. I'm so glad you liked it, and I hope you enjoy it many more times in the future!
China Andronicus
2024-09-25 22:36:45 +0000 UTCPlaying catch-up since I just got the Criterion disk. I just love well written ensemble pieces accompanied by thoughtful commentary. A classic combo.
James Rogers
2024-09-05 06:26:50 +0000 UTCHenry Fonda is one of my favorite actors! But for this movie he was also the producer; one that he was always proud to have made. In the future, please react to other Fonda tour de force portrayals in such films as: "Grapes of Wrath", "The Ox Bow Incident", "My Darling Clementine", "Fail Safe", "Once Upon a Time in the West", and "On Golden Pond".
Jeffrey Schmidbauer
2024-05-10 06:15:44 +0000 UTCgreat comment PUP.. i was hooked immediately! I dunno if its cause it was hyped, or just material i am into and I love theatre and I could feel that style. But it was soo compelling and the acting/story/camera work was a *chef's kiss*
Amalia Wolf
2024-04-23 21:49:32 +0000 UTCJust got around to it. Great reaction for an even better movie. Love it when I just get sucked into a story and everything is just above par. Great story, acting and of course camerawork and directing. How do you keep a whole movie in one room interesting visually. They not only did that but made it a highlight as well. It did remind me of Glengarry Glen Ross. Don't know if you have seen that one. One of the best movies from the 80's. Great script, also based on a play. One of the best casts you will ever see and just being enthralled by the storytelling.
Pickupthepieces76
2024-04-23 21:45:18 +0000 UTCtrue! thanks so much for watching with us Clay!
Amalia Wolf
2024-04-16 17:05:19 +0000 UTC"So captivating how they were able to flip it." Agree. Enjoyed your reaction. I've watched this excellent movie maybe 4-5 times. Good actors in that jury room, several of which I recognized from other movies and TV series. "not guilty" is not the same as "innocent" The question for the jury is not whether the kid did it, but whether the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the kid did it. If yes, then "guilty". If not, then "not guilty". The jury does not have to find the kid "innocent". Thus, a finding of "not guilty" means the prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the kid did it. It is not a finding of innocence. The burden is not on the defendant to prove innocence, only that the prosecution did not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Clay F
2024-04-16 16:59:56 +0000 UTCAnd I also love the final shot in the deliberation room from inside the closet. It's literally allowing the audience to see things from a new perspective. Brilliant! The only quibble I have with the film is Lee J. Cobb -- I wish he could have turned it down a couple of notches for most of the film and saved his gunpowder for the key moments. (But he does make a good counterpoint to Fonda's calm steadiness.)
JM63
2024-04-16 14:19:17 +0000 UTCThe football game anecdote during the rainstorm (down 7-6 but making a comeback) is a metaphor for the "game" between the not-guilty and guilty sides. Fonda's side has tied it up 6-6 and is making steady progress, but the outcome is still in doubt. As you mentioned, the blocking and camerawork in this tight space are outstanding. (Amazingly, this was Lumet's feature film debut!) Dynamic blocking in dialogue scenes seems to be a dying art; it's mostly just alternating closeups or walk-and-talks. But creatively shot dialogue can be powerful. Think about the scene in It's a Wonderful Life when George visits Mary's house. The tension would have been completely destroyed with standard alternating closeups. (The impact of the closeup is saved for the end when they're on the phone together.) I would never make a blanket statement like "old films are better than new ones." There was at least as much crap in 1924 as there is in 2024. But I definitely think that the great classics are extremely UNDERVALUED relative to their importance and what they can still teach us. So I think you (and a few other reactors) are doing really important work keeping these gems alive and relevant for this generation.
JM63
2024-04-16 14:18:10 +0000 UTCHaven't seen YML yet. I think Fonda could've played a great George Washington
JM63
2024-04-16 13:49:17 +0000 UTCThough I liked Henry Fonda in "The Grapes of Wrath," I have very deeply fond memories of him as "Young Mr. Lincoln," 1939, directed by John Ford.
william johnson
2024-04-16 11:40:28 +0000 UTCI think she liked Juror #9, the "Old Man" most.....
william johnson
2024-04-16 11:35:37 +0000 UTCSo Ames.....let's say they're doing a production of "12 Angry Jurors"! Or "12 Angry People"! Whatever they'd call it. Which juror/jurors would you want to audition for? (They're actually all are great characters!) (Maybe we need a 12 Angry Ames video, where you play all the parts!!!!) 🤣
Toc
2024-04-16 11:28:38 +0000 UTCHigh five to that! (and I love Heaven Can Wait!)
Toc
2024-04-16 11:20:58 +0000 UTCThis was a great first time watch with you, Ames! What a fascinating study of human nature, prejudice and personality. It's remarkable how authentic the performances feel! I love how each character has their moment in the spotlight, for better or worse, to bring their unique perspective (and baggage) to the table. It was so nice to see Henry Fonda again! Fonda is brilliant as the quiet voice of reasonable doubt in the face of bullying, peer pressure, and expediency. So good! And so CONTAINED within that confined space (with the door locked, lol). The confrontational nature of the dialogue, the oppressive heat, and the high stakes create a literal pressure cooker! It would definitely be great to see this as a stage play! An amazing script, brilliantly acted and directed! Along with Fonda, I am familiar with Jack Klugman, Martin Balsam and Jack Warden. If you want a good laugh, Jack Warden plays alongside Warren Beatty (with James Mason, Buck Henry, Julie Christie, Dyan Cannon, and Charles Grodin) in a hilarious and entertaining film, Heaven Can Wait (1978).
John Courtright
2024-04-16 04:34:17 +0000 UTCJust as an aside, I hadn't seen this movie in forever and during that time, I'd gotten it in my head that Cobb's part was acted by George C. Scott. They look roughly similar to each other which is undoubtable why I made that mistake, but yeah, Cobb kills this role. I don't believe I've seen him in anything else.
Carl Lyngholm
2024-04-15 22:22:27 +0000 UTCThe old man is listed under the name of McCardle in IMDB (which is what I thought I remembered), so I double-checked that line. I'm not sure about the coach's line, so I'll have to listen again when I get home tonight. I did find that there is no line referencing coaching or high school in the original play, so that's interesting.
Shawn Goforth
2024-04-15 22:02:56 +0000 UTCOK, here's a trivia question maybe you all can help me with. At the end of the movie, Jurors #8 and #9 exchange names. Fonda says he is "Davis" and the old man says he's "McCorkell." Didn't the Foreman, the "Coach," say to Fonda That he worked at the Andrew J. McCorkell High School? Or did I mis-hear it? Whether true or not, I think the old man's evaluation of the Old Man Witness poignant. He even says he knows this old man better than anyone. Of course he does. It's himself, and all of us one day.
william johnson
2024-04-15 21:40:09 +0000 UTCLee J. Cobb was wasted by Hollywood. They didn't know what to do with an actor that superb.
william johnson
2024-04-15 21:27:57 +0000 UTCI first saw this movie in a Criminal Law class and its stayed with me ever since. I doubt if I would have ever watched it on my own (at least until now, I suppose). I don't know how many pre-1970's era movies I've seen, but wouldn't be surprised if the number is under 20. Maybe the greatest single location movie ever?
Carl Lyngholm
2024-04-15 20:24:55 +0000 UTCI am BEYOND STOKED to get to these!
Amalia Wolf
2024-04-15 19:06:36 +0000 UTCOn my way out, but you used the word "delicious", which is what I was going to use! Totally agree!!! It was an honor to share that with you! What a movie!!! Fantastic post-film remarks! I'm so happy for you! Such a major film to have under your belt! I'm shocked it's only 82.....it should be way higher. It's one of the most reacted to black & white movies, I'm happy to report. Since you asked......these actors/director appear on the AFI list/other classics: Sidney Lumet directed the satire "Network" on the AFI list, and the true crime classic "Dog Day Afternoon" (which SHOULD be on the AFI list!). (he directed lots of great movies, but those two top the list!) (Network has Faye Dunaway & Robert Duvall; Dog Day Afternoon has Al Pacino and John Cazale.) So many other great movies from him though: Serpico, Deathtrap, The Pawnbroker, The Verdict.....et al. But Network and Dog Day Afternoon, those are monster classics! Always great acting with Lumet! Both Martin Balsam (foreman) and Jack Warden (the baseball guy) are in All The President's Men. Martin Balsam is also in Psycho and On The Waterfront. Both actors pop up in lots of movies. Henry Fonda is in many classics; the only other one from the AFI list off the top of my head is "The Grapes Of Wrath". He is the definitive Wyatt Earp in "My Darling Clementine", one of my fave westerns. Lee J. Cobb vs. Brando in "On The Waterfront". He also is known for one of the classic productions of "Death Of A Salesman". (Also appears in The Exorcist). Great actor. Knows how to bellow!
Toc
2024-04-15 18:56:28 +0000 UTCGotta get that for my 65” bet it will look amazing! Thanks Brent! 🥰
Amalia Wolf
2024-04-15 18:20:41 +0000 UTCI'd recommend picking up the 4K/Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber. It has the original film and the 1997 William Friedkin version. The original looks absolutely stunning in 4K. Top notch film.
Brent Turner
2024-04-15 18:14:21 +0000 UTCOf course it’s all subjective! But this AFI list is a bucket list for me! And I am sure my top 100 won’t be the same! I just take from the reasons why like technological advancements in film etc
Amalia Wolf
2024-04-15 18:02:38 +0000 UTCI haven’t seen anything this is my first! Unless I may have seen him in something when he was older but I don’t even think so! I’m stoked he’s amazing
Amalia Wolf
2024-04-15 18:01:27 +0000 UTCYES John! U will love it!
Amalia Wolf
2024-04-15 18:00:18 +0000 UTCLOL I was into this movie !
Amalia Wolf
2024-04-15 18:00:06 +0000 UTC87th? I hate "best of" lists of any type. Over time things change, your opinions change. My top movies are always changing, but this movie has always been in the top five, usually in the top three. Every aspect of it shouts excellence. I have one disagreement with it, though. I feel it would have ended stronger with Henry Fonda walking out of the jury room. End it right there and discard the outside shot. I don't think that shot adds anything to the movie,
David Martin
2024-04-15 17:57:17 +0000 UTCGreat Reaction.
william johnson
2024-04-15 17:45:06 +0000 UTC15 (?) Jaw dropping Moments from Ames
william johnson
2024-04-15 17:23:21 +0000 UTCAFI LIST!!! Looking forward to this one, Ames!! This will also be a first time watch for me!
John Courtright
2024-04-15 17:15:07 +0000 UTCWow! Ok that makes sense this is a play! It had that feel I just wasn’t sure! U can’t deny an amazing script and performances!
Amalia Wolf
2024-04-15 16:21:36 +0000 UTCGlad to see you embrace it as much as your patreons Ames. This movie of course started out as an award winning play and I was happy to see Sidney Lumet (one of my fave directors of the 70's) shoot it as such and thus keeping the tension inside the jury room intact. Henry Fonda deferred his salary to make this film. Was a perfect time capsule of 50's America I think and always interesting seeing 70's staple actors Jack Warden, Jack Klugman and Martin Balsam so early in their careers.
RFK Fan
2024-04-15 16:15:52 +0000 UTC
