12 ANGRY MEN - A smart movie grips the viewer while it is on. But a powerful movie occupies one even after it is over

A smart movie grips the viewer while it is on. But a powerful movie occupies one even after it is over. '12 Angry Men" is the latter category.

This 1957 classic is the brain child of actor Henry Fonda and writer Reginald Rose, who co-produced it and gave the break to Director Sidney Lumet - who went on to carve his own niche as a prolific Director of Psychodramas (Murder on the Orient Express, Dog Day Afternoon)

 '12 Angry Men" was nominated for Best actor, Best Director and Best Adapted screenplay. No wonder, since it was a simple premise innovatively presented. The 100 minute drama takes place in real time, within a claustrophobic room wherein 12 men just keep talking. A recipe for monotony if there was ever one!

The story without spoiler -
The drama starts with the Judge instructing a 12 men jury to arrive at a unanimous decision on the murder of an old slum dweller; his teenaged delinquent son being the accused.

The 12 jurors of different backgrounds, cultures and values are stuck for hours on a hot summer afternoon, after one of them raises a lonely voice of dissent against the 'guilty' verdict of his eleven colleagues.

What starts as a reluctant technical analysis of the murder sequence snow balls into a confrontation of personal values and prejudices.

The latter 60 minutes is a study of group behaviour and consensus building. On a higher plane '12 Angry Men' is also seen as a commentary on the jury system of dishing out justice.

What makes '12 Angry Men' different -
On technical level its clear character delineation with their idiosyncrasies rounded off and a taut script which never lets you relax.

For me it was a textbook of cinematography, considering it was a Black & white movie when color has already become entrenched. One can’t help recalling Citizen Kane while viewing this movie.

The net take is '12 Angry Men' is a must see for anybody who appreciates the cinematic grammar enhancing an emotional drama. Its cinema at its best. And not one dull 'arty' moment, let me assure you.

CA$H - When $ 600K literally falls into a poor couple's life they find out ‘Money costs too much’.

PLOT - Simple premise but stretched intelligently.

$ 600K from a heist literally falls onto Sam Phelan, an unemployed man in Chicago. His wife Leslie and him foreclose their house mortgage and splurge $70K on luxuries. While they are planning their life of unforeseen luxury, their dream is disturbed by the visit of a very violent and calculative man - Pyke Kubic .

Pyke is the twin brother of the criminal who threw away the money while being chased by the police. And he is intent on recovering every cent, within five days.

The Phelans is terrorized by Pyke to become criminals to repay. Driven by desperation and fear, the young couple digs deep into themselves and finds out that they are capable of unimaginable evil and deceit; which ultimately surprises even the seasoned criminal Pyke.

TREATMENT - Director Steve Anderson elevates a simple action thriller to a morality play. He treats the viewer to a montage of Greed laced with Naivety, Fear fueled by Desperation.

Sean Bean as Pyke Kubic is a study in stylish violence which lurks just below the suave exterior.
Chris Hemsworth and Victoria Profeta as the Phelans do a classic study of ‘average next door folks' adapting fast as 'ruthless survivors'.

CA$H - A roller coaster thriller concluding that ‘Money costs too much’

Ode to Akira Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI

Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1954) thrust Japanese cinema to the outside world; and he went on to be conferred with the Academy Honorary Award '89

THE STORY - A poor village in the mountains of medieval Japan is repeatedly pillaged by a gang of bandits. In desperation they seek to hire Samurais to protect their harvest, the paltry payment they can afford being - food three times a day.

Takashi Shimura,who dazzled in Ikuru, impresses as the worldly wise seasoned samurai Kambei; who rustles up a motley bunch of Ronins - unemployed Samurais or mercenaries.

Charismatic Toshiro Mifune is the outside pretender Shishinin, who is grudgingly included in the samurai team. (In fact the original Japanese name of the movie is Shichinin no Samurai)

The story is of the samurai and villagers evolving as a team in spite of their deep mutual antipathy, how old Kambei plans and executes the defense of the village, the sacrifices thrust upon average men in crisis.

The end is sheer poetry - after the triumph of blood and bravery, Kurosawa signs off with pointing out ‘the disconnect of violence’ in a community content with itself.

Why SEVEN SAMURAI is considered a forerunner
The plot element of ‘ building a team with varied personalities to achieve a specific goal ‘ spawned many movies like Magnificent 7, Dirty Dozen, Guns of Navrone, Ocean's Eleven and our own Sholay.

Many other popular story devices like’ Introducing the hero with an incident unrelated to the main story’ and ‘Romance between village girl and outsider’ were seen first in Seven Samurai.

In fact, many management institutions screen Seven Samurai as a study of effective leadership – team building, delegation of duty and goal orientation

Kurosawa Influence
From Satayajit Ray to Spike Lee - The list of directors who have conceded to the inspiration of this Japanese icon is pretty long. In tamil, Mani Ratnam paid a tribute to Akira Kurosawa in the Thalabathi song sequence " Sundari, kanaal oru seidhi" and Kamal with his Virumandi.

Kurosawa is like a restaurant, you like to frequent.  Roshomon, High & Low, Stray Dog, Ikuru.. hmm.. These are my favorite dishes