Sidney Lumet

Sidney Lumet

Host: Tanner

Tanners Take

Freddy's Take

This was a day that was easy to love and though I always feel like I want to follow up Director Day, the very next day, with three more films, this one was especially good for me. Lumet had a storied career, but he never caught on as a celebrity type in the way that directors like Kubrick, Spielberg, Ford, Hitchcock, and Scorsese did. None the less, he was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Director four times. I was embarrassed to say that I had not seen "12 Angry Men" before this day. Tanner did a great job in selecting the films to watch. They each were spread out over multiple decades and each felt very much of their time and place. A realistic view of people, who have different motivations in their behavior and how that spills over into the lives of others, for better or worse. "12 Angry Men" goes into instant classic mode for me, which should go without saying. There is so much to like. The characters, the thought provoking exchanges, and the challenge of immersing yourself in a film that basically has just one setting; a jury room. Though Henry Fonda is clearly the star of the movie, Lumet allows all of their characters their moments of influence on the story, which lends to the realism. "Dog Day Afternoon" is a film I have seen numerous times and just can't get tired of. "Before The Devil Knows Your Dead" is a relentless movie that highlights the temporary insanity that can take hold when an otherwise ordinary someone is truly desperate. "Dog Day Afternoon" is a slow burn and one of the great performances of Al Pacino's career. Other notable films from Lumet are "Network", "Serpico", and "The Verdict". Lumet's style is to produce a very realistic feel and I know that I'm going to be searching out more work from him. 

12 Angry Men

Dog Day Afternoon

Before The Devil Knows Your Dead

An interesting interview with Lumet.......