The 12 jurors in 12 Angry Men
“It's always difficult to keep personal prejudice out of a
thing like this. And wherever you run into it, prejudice always obscures the
truth. I don't really know what the truth is. I don't suppose anybody will ever
really know. Nine of us now seem to feel that the defendant is innocent, but
we're just gambling on probabilities - we may be wrong. We may be trying to let
a guilty man go free, I don't know. Nobody really can. But we have a reasonable
doubt, and that's something that's very valuable in our system. No jury can
declare a man guilty unless it's sure.”
-Juror #8
The opinions of one vs. a group can be a stifling thing
especially when the life of a young boy is in your hands. That is the dilemma
of one uncertain Juror in the classic adaptation of 12 Angry Men a film that is
evidence of the power of pure conversation in film. 12 Angry Men is a film that
takes place almost entirely in one room with 12 jurors attempting to figure out
the standing of a potential murderer. At first everyone feels that he is guilty
but through the power of one voice everything can change.
12 Angry Men shows the power of dialogue in film. The film
is one hundred percent relies on the power of the dialogue that the actors are
delivering. The film is masterful at creating plot through the power of back
and forth conversation. Not only that but each juror has a unique personality
that gradually shines as the film continues to build. No character is a flat stereotype
and each reveals their complexities overtime gradually adding layers as the
plot adds layers. By the middle of the film it’s fantastic to watch 12 complicated
characters add their own views and prejudices into the fray.
12 Angry Men is also a film that gradually tension as the
film proceeds. There is a constant sense of urgency even with the only action
being conversation. All of it reaches a final, emotional climax that reveals
that even the most potentially prejudice of us all has a reason for it. That in
the end it’s our emotions that ultimately get in the way of our true logical
intentions.
-Frederick Cholowski
No comments:
Post a Comment