It’s one of the best American films of all time, and it’s currently available for streaming. The ideal opportunity to catch up with him and perfect his cinematographic culture.
Despite the decades that pass and the technologies that evolve, certain films do not age and remain timeless classics of the seventh art. This is the case of this legal drama released 67 years ago: by its rhythm, its subject, its acting and its tension, it remains one of the best films of all time, which must be to have seen at least once in your life.
Directed by Sidney Lumet (A Dog’s Afternoon, Network), 12 angry men is a judicial closed session which follows the twelve members of a jury responsible for ruling on the fate of a man accused of the murder of his father. At the time of voting, while the jurors all seem convinced of his guilt and are preparing to sentence him to death, one of the members of the jury expresses reservations. The group of men must, however, arrive at a unanimous decision one way or the other, and each side must convince the other of its deep conviction.
12 angry men is a special trial film that does not take place in a courtroom itself, but only in the jury deliberation room. The black sheep of the jury, played by Henry Fonda, asks a seemingly simple question, but which is also one of the great challenges of justice: can we convict a man if the slightest doubt remains? Gradually, the jurors will discover that the case, simple in appearance, is probably much more complex than it appears.
Sidney Lumet thus signs a theatrical thriller in its form but without downtime, superbly acted, which explores in depth what it truly means to “do justice”, especially when you can decide the life or death of someone. 12 angry men is above all a film that is easy to watch again and which captivates the viewer from start to finish, without any artifice. With a score of 9/10, it is also in fifth position among the best films of all time on the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB), which compiles spectator reviews. It is also on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 best films of all time.
12 Angry men in streaming was released in perfect timing in streaming, while the film Juror #2 by Clint Estawood had just been released in cinemas. Sidney Lumet’s legal drama is currently available on Amazon’s Prime Video platform. All you need is a subscription at 6.99 euros per month (or 69.99 euros per month). If this is not your case, the feature film is also available for purchase or rental on most VOD sites.