#9: 12 Angry Men

Sidney Lumet's 1957 directorial debut is a powerful film that is the product of a killer combination of all-time-great screenwriting and acting. 12 Angry Men is, on paper, a by-the-books, single-room courtroom drama, but in its opening minutes, it becomes clear that there is much more at play.

The film stars an incredible and legendary cast led by Henry Fonda as the doubtful Juror #8. Its ensemble is really only fifteen actors, with only twelve doing the majority of the acting. Besides the opening and closing sequences around the courthouse, the entire film takes place in a single room during the deliberations of the jury. The performances mix exasperation with exhaustion that is sometimes very real due to the hundreds of rehearsals and takes that Lumet had them perform. As prejudices roar their ugly heads and personalities clash, a completely different film - a character study of sorts - emerges. Despite its age, 12 Angry Men remains as pertinent as ever in such a volatile and anger-filled society that hasn't lost many of the predispositions we see in the film.

Beyond acting, the film remains master class in writing and directing dialogue. The film leaves you feeling both in awe, and educated in how a film is constructed. Early on it is easy to side with the majority of the jury, but as clues are explained and the audience begins to more fully understand the case, the true nature of the crime becomes clear. Despite this, the information slowly fed to the audience never feels like needless exposition simply for the sake of the audience. Finally, Lumet directs with an intimacy that draws the viewer in closer as the film progresses; starting the film with shots higher above the actors and slowly inching down until you are directly in the face of each actor. This mixture of craft and performance is what truly drives 12 Angry Men to the great heights that it aspires to.

What to know: 12 Angry Men is the definitive courtroom drama, and a must watch when it comes to purely-dialogue based films.