This 1997 made-for-TV adaptation of 12 Angry Men gave Friekin’s career a much-needed shot in the arm after a series of duds (The Guardian and Jade among them). While playing true to the Reginal Rose’s infamous text, Friedkin added his own flourishes that really brought home the claustrophobic air and simmering tension between this group of men debating the fate of a young man on trail for a crime he did not commit.
A fantastic ensemble cast including Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, James Gandolfini, and Friedkin’s To Live and Die in L.A. star William Peterson, all deliver exceptional performances under Friedkin’s watch.
Friedkin would go on to receive Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for his direction, the last time he would be a part of any significant awards chatter.
