12 Angry Men (1957): Precise and riveting in its depiction of the heart of man, the difficulty of compromise and the possibility of forgiveness. Sidney Lumet's film -- his first feature -- is based on a Reginald Rose teleplay, and with the action mainly occurring inside a jury deliberation room, it does give you the intense, even claustrophobic feeling of having front-row seats for a powerful play. It's all about the dialogue, all about the ... more 

12 Angry Men (1957): Precise and riveting in its depiction of the heart of man, the difficulty of compromise and the possibility of forgiveness. Sidney Lumet's film -- his first feature -- is based on a Reginald Rose teleplay, and with the action mainly occurring inside a jury deliberation room, it does give you the intense, even claustrophobic feeling of having front-row seats for a powerful play. It's all about the dialogue, all about the performances, with a stellar cast led by Henry Fonda, Martin Balsam, Jack Warden and Jack Klugman. We never know whether the defendant in this murder trial is truly guilty; what matters are the prejudices and life experiences the jurors bring to the debate. less