The oldest and 2nd on the list is Sidney Lumet’s 1957 masterpiece 12 Angry Men. Taking place entirely within a jury room, 12 Angry Men is a masterclass of acting, direction and fantastic writing. It places here due to the fact that it is proof that sometimes the old films are the best.
Speaking from my own experience, it does become very hard to enjoy old movies, due to the ever-changing trends in cinema. A lot of the films regarded as ‘classics’ do often now lose its magic touch. After seeing current films re-use tropes and sitting through countless remakes, reboots and sequels, it becomes hard to think of the originals as good as they’ve been claimed to be.
However, after watching 12 Angry Men for the first time, and many since then, it is undeniably a classic. For any film fanatic that’s interested in screenwriting or directing, watching 12 Angry Men is a great way of getting to witness these elements at full force.
The story follows a group of 12 men (hence the title), each who are unfamiliar with each other, be that name or identity, spending 90 minutes in a room discussing the details of the trail they’re a part of, and trying to find the truth. If this sounds boring or uninteresting due to the fact it’s basically one long scene, I, personally, can promise you it isn’t. It is a unique and masterfully crafted film, and a great example of early cinema that is untouchable.
Anarchist Analysis 