Film of the Day: 40
12 Angry Men (1957)
It is unfortunate to know that in this day in age, capital punishment is still being practised in over 18 countries in the world such as Japan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and of course the United States (to name a few). In the States at the moment, there are only 12 States where Capital Punishment is no longer in use and 4 more states are in motion of removing it (N.Y., Massachusetts, Illinois & New Mexico). The two states where the death penalty is used the most are California and Texas, and it looks like they're in no interest of changing their laws.
As a matter of fact, in 2010 it shows that a Gallup poll showed 64% of Americans were in favour of the death penalty (for murder cases), whilst 29% were against it.
I am however proud to report that in Canada, the death penalty has been abolished as of today in 1976. For this, we look at the late great Sidney Lumet's first work, a masterful courtroom drama (yet the actual court is hardly ever shown) featuring Henry Fonda, 12 Angry Men. Now this is a film that can inspire many film makers, it is shot almost all in one room yet the tension never ends.
We have 12 jurors in a room together who must decide the fate of a young man who is on trial for murdering his father, if found guilty, he will not be sent to prison, but he will be sentenced to death. These 12 men are smoking, they're sweating, they're searing and most of all they're getting angry. It is based mostly on juror #8 (Fonda), who unlike all the other eleven, votes not guilty. Not because he thinks the man is innocent, but because he feels they should look closer to the evidence and not just condemn a man to death without a proper study.
He then convinces another member of the jury to give another look at the evidence and the entire case. Some of the men just want to go home as they feel they are wasting time, some of them (most particularly juror No. 3 played by the angry Lee J. Cobb) get angry at Fonda, as they want the kid to be condemned. It is a great study of the men as we see reasons why they thought he was guilty or why not and Cobb is my personal favourite character in the film. He is in fact the character who is most blinded by hatred. We can see that he clearly has issues, issues that have also to do with his own son.
Lumet has had fantastic career, starting off with this masterpiece, and onto Fail-Safe, the under-rated The Hill, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon (Pacino's best performance), the brilliant Network, The Verdict (Newman's best performance) and his return to form Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. He truly was one of those rare directors that knew how to get the best performance out of an actor, as all his great films have that same key element, powerhouse performances.
Lumet was also apparently inspired by the 1943 western classic The Ox-Bow Incident (also staring Henry Fonda), where three men were hung by a mob for a murder which they did not commit. In the end of the film, there is a masterful scene where Fonda reads a letter stating that the men were innocent, but whilst he is reading, we cannot see Fonda's eyes from the shadow of his hat. The director was stating that Justice is blind.
Another great film on the subject is Friz Lang's first American Picture: Fury
Click here for the trailer.
As a matter of fact, in 2010 it shows that a Gallup poll showed 64% of Americans were in favour of the death penalty (for murder cases), whilst 29% were against it.
I am however proud to report that in Canada, the death penalty has been abolished as of today in 1976. For this, we look at the late great Sidney Lumet's first work, a masterful courtroom drama (yet the actual court is hardly ever shown) featuring Henry Fonda, 12 Angry Men. Now this is a film that can inspire many film makers, it is shot almost all in one room yet the tension never ends.
We have 12 jurors in a room together who must decide the fate of a young man who is on trial for murdering his father, if found guilty, he will not be sent to prison, but he will be sentenced to death. These 12 men are smoking, they're sweating, they're searing and most of all they're getting angry. It is based mostly on juror #8 (Fonda), who unlike all the other eleven, votes not guilty. Not because he thinks the man is innocent, but because he feels they should look closer to the evidence and not just condemn a man to death without a proper study.
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Lumet has had fantastic career, starting off with this masterpiece, and onto Fail-Safe, the under-rated The Hill, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon (Pacino's best performance), the brilliant Network, The Verdict (Newman's best performance) and his return to form Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. He truly was one of those rare directors that knew how to get the best performance out of an actor, as all his great films have that same key element, powerhouse performances.
Lumet was also apparently inspired by the 1943 western classic The Ox-Bow Incident (also staring Henry Fonda), where three men were hung by a mob for a murder which they did not commit. In the end of the film, there is a masterful scene where Fonda reads a letter stating that the men were innocent, but whilst he is reading, we cannot see Fonda's eyes from the shadow of his hat. The director was stating that Justice is blind.
Another great film on the subject is Friz Lang's first American Picture: Fury
Click here for the trailer.
I really like this film, especially Henry Fonda's role. It clearly demonstrates that with sheer guts true justice will ultimatly prevailes!
ReplyDeleteGreat moral!