12 Angry Men is considered by many critics and fans of cinema as an all time classic and a masterpiece. The plot focuses on the 12 men deciding if a boy on trial for murder should be sentenced or not. One of the men casts reasonable doubt and it sparks a debate among the men for hours. This story may seem simple at a first glance but they way Sidney Lumet handles this story is masterful.

The cinematography is amazing, depicting how isolated it is in the room as none of the men are allowed out until they have reached a verdict. It is also a boiling hot day and the cinematography focuses on this causing an even stronger sense of claustrophobia. As all the men start to reveal holes throughout the evidence it interesting to see how they react. Viewers such as myself are supposed to react similarly with surprise, intrigue and slight confusion, until it is finally all pieced together. I will not spoil the plot but as more evidence is exposed as false or untrustworthy I would be more invested in the plot.

In my opinion, the area that this film thrives in is its characterisation. 12 men who all are memorable characters. Everyone has diverse personalities and were all portrayed as such. The acting performances are some of the best I have seen in all of cinema and obviously Henry Fonda is the stand out but, Lee J. Cobb's performance was easily my favourite. All the emotions that Cobb's character displays and how he evolves as a character is realistic and it shows great characterisation. The conversations in this movie is also a great showcase of characters personalities, it might be a conversation about the hot weather, work or business, a sports game or even a conversation cut off by one of the more introverted men. There are so many diverse characters and I would delve into their character arcs and motivations, as well as mindsets, but that was some of the fun of 12 Angry Men, working out why everyone had a different intention, idea or character trait.

12 Angry Men is a nearly flawless film and the only issue I had is that at times it dragged slightly, but it was for the purpose of characterisation. Immersive cinematography, a solid plot and some of the best characterisation of all time is what really creates this fantastic experience. The ending left me completely satisfied and it was one of the most fulfilling film experiences I have had. This all time classic is nothing but a masterpiece.