12 Angry Men – a fantastic movie and one of my all-time favorites

The first time I saw 12 Angry Men was about 25 years ago. I had no idea what the movie was about; I was in my action genre zone, having just watched films like Seven Samurai, Magnificent Seven, and Dirty Dozen. I knew 12 Angry Men was highly rated and expected an action-packed film. I watched it on my VCR and was completely blown away. It was an incredible viewing experience—something I had not anticipated at all—it was one of the best movies I had ever seen.

For those who might not know, the film tells the story of a jury of twelve men as they deliberate the conviction or acquittal of a teenager charged with murder based on reasonable doubt. While it’s difficult to define the exact genre of the movie, I would say it blends solid drama, good suspense, and legal crime elements.

After watching 12 Angry Men for the first time, I must have seen it several more times. Not only that, but I also sought out remakes and adaptations of 12 Angry Men from around the world and tried to watch as many as possible. While most of what I saw was good, below I share the ones I enjoyed the most (in no particular order):

1. 12 Angry Men (USA, English, 1957) – This is THE OG—the best of all versions I’ve watched. The movie features a great ensemble cast led by Henry Fonda. The performances were solid for the most part, and each jury member had a role to play. The interactions, discussions of facts, personal biases, and gradual transformations are portrayed very effectively. Issues like socio-economic background biases and age biases, such as distrust of youth, are highlighted and feel highly relevant to the proceedings without being overt. I could go on and on about this! 😊

2. 12 Angry Men (USA, English, 1997) – I saw the original 12 Angry Men shortly before the 1997 version was released. This version is a faithful remake of the original for the most part, with similar plot points and storylines. While it’s still a good watch, it isn’t quite as compelling as the original. The only criticism I’ve heard about the original is that it features an all-white jury, which I felt was unfair, as it accurately reflected American society at that time. The 1997 version has a more diverse cast, reflecting how American society had evolved over 40 years. I did have some issues with the 1997 version—the racial bias felt unnecessarily explicit, the performances seemed too theatrical at times, and it didn’t feel as tight as the original. Overall, though, I still enjoyed watching this one.

3. Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (India, Hindi, 1986) – This was my first foray into non-American remakes of 12 Angry Men, and I quite enjoyed it. It’s a faithful remake, with the setup and key plot points remaining similar. The movie grabs your attention throughout and is well adapted to the Indian context. The biases of the jury are similar for the most part, except for one that stood out to me: the bias regarding parental sacrifice and expectations—that children owe a debt to their parents for their upbringing. It was interesting to see how this factor influenced a juror’s perceptions of the defendant, and his subsequent character arc. Overall, it’s a good movie that has not received enough attention.

4. Aattam (India, Malayalam, 2024) – Please note that Aattam is not a remake of 12 Angry Men; it’s an adaptation. For me, it’s one of the best movies I’ve seen from India. The film focuses on a theater troupe whose only female member faces molestation at the hands of a highly influential male member. Her male co-actors form an “informal court” to discuss and address the issue. As the deliberations of this “jury” progress, they reveal several issues, such as gender biases and morality, especially as their own secrets and hidden motives come to light. The performances are solid throughout, and the setup in a two-story house is perfect. As the movie progressed, I found myself unsure of how it would end, but I was thoroughly impressed by the conclusion, which made for an incredibly satisfying experience.

Given my obsession with this topic, I’ve seen a few other remakes too, and they were all good for the most part—except for one, which I don’t even remember well.

If you’re a movie buff and haven’t seen 12 Angry Men, I strongly suggest you watch it. I would recommend watching the original 1957 version and Aattam.

https://preview.redd.it/089sjnr559vd1.jpg?width=318&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3347f184b94e1caae10bf6048c7431318b4782d5