You know that Blues Traveler lyric about a bad play where the heroes are right? It kinda makes me think of that; except it's the inverse. 12 Angry Men is a good play where the heroes are right.
It's a bit far fetched, but it really is a good examination of the potential weaknesses in the justice system and the personal responsibilities that go into being a member of a jury. That said, the lead juror's saintly behavior does get a bit annoying. With such an unfiltered look at prejudices, personal biases, groupthink, and general human behavior, it seems rather out of place that the lead juror would be such a spotless individual.
The title's also a bit misleading since he never gets heated. I guess "11 Angry Men and a Saint" wasn't as catchy of a title. I have nothing against Atticus Finch types, when they're in the right stories, but this was one case where the lead needed a little bit of dirt under his fingernails. His golden halo might be just enough to keep the story from greatness, but it is still a really, really good story.
I mean, 11 Angry Men is a pretty interesting title. Somewhat misleading, but still... ---
"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss in life is what dies inside us while we live." - Norma Cousin I <3 Capcom