Sidney Lumet, a director who preferred the streets of New York to the back lots of Hollywood and whose stories of conscience -- "12 Angry Men," "Serpico," "Dog Day Afternoon," "The Verdict," "Network" -- became modern American film classics, has died at his home in Manhattan.
"While the goal of all movies is to entertain," Sidney Lumet once wrote, "the kind of film in which I believe goes one step further. It compels the spectator to examine one facet or another of his own conscience. It stimulates thought and sets the mental juices flowing."
His best films not only probed the consequences of prejudice, corruption and betrayal but also celebrated individual acts of courage.
3 comments:
"12 Angry Men" is an amazing movie. A small, plain, somewhat claustrophobic setting, with a script and performances that make it utterly compelling. One of the few movies where I quite literally was on the edge of my seat for much of the time.
Was a formative movie for me, totally memorable. Amazing acting.
I've always liked Sidney Lumet's movies, and I've always liked the ideaof Sidney Lumet's movies, the elevation of sheer storytelling craft over self-indulgent personal expression. Lumet had plenty to express, all right, but he did it with a minimum of fuss and always with his full attention on entertaining the viewer in an intelligent way.He will be missed..RIP.
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