film #11

12 Angry Men

A classic. Rewatchable, I'd say- not true of every film I've enjoyed. The more I think about it, the more genuinely brilliant the concept- I mean, it's such a simple setting, but the story is so dramatic, and the character dynamics so rich. Initially I was a little suspicious, how can they possibly generate a full film from one dissenting guy and a room of people against him? And the first conversations certainly felt a little redundant. But the process of examining the case turned out to be pretty interesting, like a detective film really. Each of the characters, whether examined in depth or only touched upon, had a richly distinct personality, to the point where any time any two of them were talking to eachother, I was already interested- already excited to discover how these particular two would interact. And I must say, the ending… I love that ending. So simple. Really kindof stirring to think of the quick politeness, the slight moment of connection and courtesy, between two men who have undergone something incredible together. (I'm referring to the names, but this description also works for the jacket, I realize as I write.)

I really love the way the film feels present in its time- classic character archetypes of the 1950s (the meek, high voiced clerk, the cold, waspy stockbroker, the kramdenesque regular joe.) The conversations, priorities and personalities of the characters, even little details like the hats, the glasses, the opinions about women, discussions of baseball- it made me think of the cinematic concept of a period piece… and how film has now lasted long enough that then-contemporary films can also exist as a sort of period piece for their own era.

My only criticism… for a film about doubt, the morality gets somewhat annoyingly black and white at times. Later in the film, and perhaps this is the point, but the guilty faction just has nothing new or compelling to say. All they can do is find new ways to shout, "this is impossible! you're mixing it all up! he's guilty!" while #8 calmly proceeds from breakthrough to breakthrough. #4, the stockbroker, genuinely is a relief by the end of the film- when he has a fresh and compelling and reasonable case for guilt, rather than just angrily shouting, I felt reinvested in the story. There was actually a two-sided conflict again, rather than an inexorable march towards victory.

Although a little blatant at times, this is a wise political parable… and it's funny actually how blatantly it breaks down along political lines (typical liberal hollywood.) at the midpoint of the film, the heroes include the ringleader liberal, an intellectual, the elderly, the working man, the immigrant, the city kid born into poverty. the antagonists include an angry racist, a pompous businessman, a flippant salesman, an indecisive adman, the foreman (a perfectly good guy), and the bloodthirsty ringleader.

Altogether, really great. A little simplistic at times, a little belabored- but the characters, the story, the personality of the moment- thoroughly compelling.