#38 12 Angry Men (1957)

Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Henry Fonda

Whenever a film is set almost entirely in one room or space (Rope and Buried come to mind), I always have great admiration when it is able to deliver tension. I can't think of a better film at doing this than 12 Angry Men.

The success of the film lies in it's narrative, script and acting. All 12 men in the film give outstanding performances and are completely committed to their characters. These characters are developed so well by the narrative and script which ultimately leave the viewer with a fascinating and distinct group of people to watch.

This film is something which I believe everybody should watch. It's a testament to cinema and shows that to achieve a truly great film you don't need explosions, action, costumes and special effects. All that's needed is terrific acting. These days, too many films cover over the cracks with a loud, visual special effects sequence, but not here. 12 Angry Men is laid out in front of you so simply, that if there were faults, they would be evident. However, the simple fact is, there aren't any to be found.