A dialogue-driven courtroom drama that takes place almost entirely inside one room definitely has the potential to descend into tedium, but Sidney Lumet's feature debut manages to wring plenty of drama and tension out of the central conceit thanks to excellent writing, confident direction and strong performances from the ensemble cast. 12 Angry Men has more in common with a play than a movie due to the limited locations and almost real-time narrative structure, which makes the script all the more important. Thankfully, the movie boasts one of the greatest screenplays ever written that keeps audiences invested in the outcome thanks to strong characterization and constantly-shifting momentum, shot through with an underlying social commentary that never becomes too on-the-nose. Lumet's inventive camerawork stops things from becoming visually monotonous, while each of the titular 12 jurors are given ample time to offer insight into their character's personality and motivations regarding the case. Shot in just a few weeks for a paltry $340,000 (which is still under $3m when adjusted for inflation), the result is an all-time classic of American cinema and the greatest courtroom drama ever made.
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