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Sidney Lumet is one of the all - clip best film directors to ever live . The five - clip Oscar - nominate and one - time Golden Globe - winning film maker is responsible for for helm some of the most iconic and well - get movie in cinematic story . After spend five age honing his craft on television , Lumet made his magnanimous - sieve entry with the classic courtroom drama12 Angry Men , which currently ranks # 5 on IMDB ’s Top 25o .
From 1957 to 2007 , Lumet spend half a century turn in one classical film after another while form with the biggest names in Hollywood at the meter . For a better picture , here are Sidney Lumet ’s 10 Best Movies , fit in to Rotten Tomatoes .
The Verdict (1982) 88%
Written by David Mamet , The VerdictstarsPaul Newmanas a high - functioning alcoholic lawyer who has a major moment of clarity when upon taking on a malpractice causa .
Frank Galvin ( Newman ) is a disgraced Bostonian litigator who expend his downtime sipping flavor in a barroom . Nearly disbar in the past while losing his wife , Frank finds a chance at redemption when he takes on a eccentric involving aesculapian malpractice . The film earned five Oscar nominations , including Best Picture , Actor , and Director .
Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007) 88%
With an 88 % certify Fresh Rating , Lumet proved he was just as life-sustaining in his net moving-picture show as he was his first 50 age earlier . Before the Devil know You ’re Deadwas named Movie of the Year by the AFI in 2008 .
The film surveil estranged brothers Andy ( Philip Seymour Hoffman ) and Hank ( Ethan Hawke ) , who upon hard times , decide to rob their own parent ’s well - secure jewelry computer memory located in a quiet striptease promenade . The nonviolent architectural plan backfired when the getaway driver brings a gun to the scene against Andy ’s instructions , leading to a devastating series of events .
Murder On The Orient Express (1974) 89%
free-base on the classical Agatha Christie mystery story , Murder on the Orient Expressis a star - studded amour featuring the like of Albert Finney , Sean Connery , Lauren Bacall , Ingrid Bergman , Martin Balsam , Vanessa Redgrave , and many more .
Finney stars s Belgian super - sleuth , HerculePoirot , hired to sniff out the murderer aboard the titular train running from Paris to Istanbul . As Poirot interviews the rider , it becomes clear everyone has one motive or another and could potentially be involved in fouled play . The plastic film scored six Oscar nominations and one profits for Bergman in a affirm role .
Serpico (1973) 90%
As a countercultural cadence - cop in New York City , Frank Serpico ( Al Pacino ) push systemic corruption within the police personnel despite the lack of supporting from his partners and colleagues .
Serpico is an honest cop beholden to his moral ambit in the face of serious misdeeds among his precinct . While his partners continue to skim money off the criminals they arrest , Serpico can not lessen in line and be a part of the widespread corruption . The film landed two Oscar nominating speech , including Best Actor ( Pacino ) and Best adjust Screenplay ( Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler ) .
Prince Of The City (1981) 91%
In another taradiddle of rearing law subversion , Lumet bring in an Oscar nomination for filmdom - adapting Robert Daley ’s 1978 bookPrince of the City .
The motion picture cut through narcotic detective Danny Ciello ( Treat Williams ) , a suspect NYC fuzz who upon getting busted agrees to help the police direction settle out systemic police corruption . However , once Ciello agrees to aid , he soon realizes that the vetting process is also deep blemished . Left with nobody to trust but himself , Ciello must find a mode to do what is ripe no matter the cost .
Network (1976) 92%
Lumet’sNetworkis wide regarded as one of the finest films ever made . presently ranked # 207 on IMDB ‘S Top 250 to go with its Certified Fresh Rating , the film gain four Academy Awards .
Written by Paddy Chayefsky in an Oscar - win screenplay , the film portend the trend of exploiting telecasting news for ratings . When longtime news anchor Howard Beale ( Peter Finch ) begins rave and spout on the nightly news program about every injustice in society , the evaluation unexpectedly fortify . misanthropic executive director Diana Christensen ( Faye Dunaway ) exhort Beale to continue to speak his head endure on - air so long as the succeeder continues .
Fail-Safe (1964) 93%
In the cautionary Cold - War story , Fail - Safeimagines a race for atomic disincentive among the U.S and Soviet Union . Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau costar in the film .
Due to a proficient glitch , an American warplane is sent to drop to a nuclear bomb over Moscow . In a rush to reverse the club , tensions on both sides of the potential warfare rebel in a thrilling style . As a result , the U.S. organizes a Strategic Air Command to form with the Soviets to deter nuclear disintegration .
Long Day’s Journey Into Night (1962) 94%
Based on the classical Eugene O’Neill play , Lumet mastermind screen legend Katherine Hepburn to an Oscar - constitute performance inLong Day ’s Journey Into Night .
Centennial State - starring Ralph Richardson , Jason Robards , Dean Stockwell , and Jeanne Barr , the story concerns a wealthy family tuck at the end of a long summer Clarence Day to enjoy each other ’s company . However , booze , green-eyed monster , ambition , and mean - bouncy confrontations begin to tear the fabric of the family apart in the most heartrending agency .
Dog Day Afternoon (1975) 95%
Lumet’sDog Day Afternoonis not only involve as one of the all - fourth dimension best heist films , but it ’s also been recognized as an early champion of gay and trans - rightfield over the past 45 eld .
Based on a truthful chronicle highlight in a magazine article written by P.F. Kluge , the film follow Sonny ( Al Pacino ) , a man who decide to rob a bank to make up for his trans wife ’s sex - change operation . However , once he and his confederate Sal ( John Cazale ) realize the money in the savings bank has already been bank elsewhere , they ’re pull up stakes to negociate with Police Captain Moretti ( Charles Durning ) . The moving-picture show gain an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay .
12 Angry Men (1957) 100%
Lumet ’s first plastic film still ranks as his fine , according to Rotten Tomatoes , IMDB , and Metascore . The story about a prejudicial jury board that slowly give their mind and changes their popular opinion on a murder casing is simply beyond reproach .
12 Angry Mencenters on a panel deliberation of a young human being who may have murdered his own father . Despite the special grounds , 11 of the 12 jurywoman think the gentleman is guilty . The lone holdout , Juror 8 ( Henry Fonda ) , lento salute the facts of the case in a sober - tending mode until the intact jury changes their judgement to acquit the suspect .
NEXT:10 Best 90 ’s Law Movies , Ranked
