12 - 9 stars out of 10

12 - 9 stars out of 10

This Russian remake of "12 Angry Men" (which is arguably the greatest court film in cinema history) stays true to the original through amazing acting performances by developing characters that do not even possess names. This modern take on the story does seem a bit more presumptuous than the original but still keeps you on the edge of your seat as the jury members slowly unravel the court case in the deliberation room. Touching stories from the lives of individual jurors presented with incredible emotion help them to see the evidence more clearly as they struggle to reach a unanimous decision. Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov (who also plays one of the jurors) brings his culture into the story to keep it from feeling the same as 12 Angry Men, all under the guise of a beautiful musical score. If you love 12 Angry Men, this movie will surely be a treat for you; however, if you have not seen 12 Angry Men, I would definitely recommend seeing it in place of this remake.