Dog Day Afternoon

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Dog Day Afternoon

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Dog Day Afternoon

Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon, Sully Boyar

Based on a true 1972 story, Sidney Lumet's 1975 drama chronicles a unique bank robbery on a hot summer afternoon in New York City. Shortly before closing time, scheming loser Sonny (Al Pacino) and his... read more read more... slow-witted buddy, Sal (John Cazale), burst into a Brooklyn bank for what should be a run-of-the-mill robbery, but everything goes wrong, beginning with the fact that there is almost no money in the bank. The situation swiftly escalates, as Sonny and Sal take hostages; enough cops to police the tristate area surround the bank; a large Sonny-sympathetic crowd gathers to watch; the media arrive to complete the circus; and police captain Moretti (Charles Durning) tries to negotiate with Sonny while keeping the volatile spectacle under control. When Sonny's lover, Leon (Chris Sarandon), tries to talk Sonny out of the bank, we learn the robbery's motive: to finance Leon's sex-change operation. Sonny demands a plane to escape, but the end is near once menacingly cool FBI agent Sheldon (James Broderick) arrives to take over the negotiations. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

Id: 10399778

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Recent Reviews

Dog Day Afternoon Recent Reviews
  • fb1576983399
    May 23, 2012
    fb1576983399
    I really enjoyed this film. It does start out better than it ends, but remains interesting enough all of the way through. It is subtly funny and very dramatic. It has a very good screenplay and a great performance by Pacino. I think it was a little too slow developing, but enjoya... read moreble in the end.
  • MrMarakai
    February 17, 2012
    MrMarakai
    Al Pacino and John Cazale came into this film just off the back of completing "The Godfather parts I & II" together. Pacino also managed to do "Serpico" and Cazale "The Conversation" in-between. It was a good run they were both on in the early 70's and this no less of a classic ... read morethan the aforementioned ones.
    On a hot day in New York, on 22nd August 1972, three men set out to rob a bank. It's supposed to take ten minutes, but things start going wrong from the beginning when one of them bails at the last minute. Four hours later, the bank is surrounded by police, a media circus, and crowds of well wishers.
    As the film opens, we are given a montage of New York life and it's vastness and eclectic mix of people. Not before long though, we are then lead into a bank by three men, who proceed to threaten the bank tellers with rifles. Within minutes, this true story has begun with such a tense and completely believable hold-up. The tension is, by-and-large, the masterwork of director Sidney Lumey and a strikingly powerful performance by Al Pacino. Lumet never let's up for a moment, he has the camera moving at such a pace that the adrenaline of the bank robbery is also felt by the viewer. He has always been a highly respected director and on this evidence alone, you can see why. And then, almost suddenly, the pace is ground to a halt with a phone call... The police are watching everything that going on from across the street. This is when Lumet slows it down and gets closer to his actors and the claustrophobia of the situation. The performances are uniformly brilliant - making you forget that it's actors you're watching - but this is ultimately Pacino's show. He highly on-edge, with despairing eyes and nervous ticks, desperately trying to hold everything together. He injects a real sympathy and believability to his character and it stands as one of his finest pieces of work. Added to which, with the body of work that Sidney Lumet has delivered over a career spanning 50 years (he died in 2011), this is one of his greatest achievements also.
    An outstanding, naturalistic heist movie that boasts career highs and an unbearable tension that never let's up. In a decade of fine cinema, this remains one of the best of the 70's.
  • FrizzDrop
    December 31, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    This is one of the most comprehensive, well thought out, and emotionally complicit films about bank robbery, the inspiration for later great films such as Public Enemies and Point Break. The film is the true story of a bank robbery in Brooklyn in 1972 by Sonny and Sal which led t... read moreo a media cavalcade of massive proportions. What differs from many films about bank robbing is that the robber isn't a feared individual hell-bent on evil ways, murdering everyone along the way and "throwing bodies out the front door." The robbers in question are made to feel like pathetic human beings, one a soft hearted but deeply loyal triggerman who is held accountable for the hostages' lives, yet must be coaxed and cuddled throughout by the leader, Sonny. Sonny (Al Pacino) is the best and sole reason for the entire film. He is pointedly a dejected man with little keeping him mentally sober to everything going on around him. Though he is a violent and changed person in the passing years, he cares for the hostages he is keeping alive in the bank and they in turn start becoming his friends and willing captives, mimicking Stockholm Syndrome. Little by little Sonny heads all negotiations and becomes the eccentric face of the operation, leading him to becoming a media darling and grandstander for the all too willing crowd of loud mouths and radicals. The entire film shows the human side of the robbers, the intricate set of events that led to the end of their game of chance. Though much of this is simply shot within the parameters of the actual scene and does not defer from the bank or the outside perimeter, the waiting game is always intensified by the arguments between Sonny and Detective Moretti (Charles Durning) which usually give Sonny the upper hand, as he not only holds hostages, but regularly stirs up the crowd with his calls of "Attica" a police blunder several months beforehand. Here Sonny is a folk hero, a diabolical lynch pin who knows everything that the police are planning to do, gives himself to the public eye, and then believes he and his accomplice will get away scot free. Besides that he himself has a complicated backstory, what with his perpetually verklempt wife, his worrying yet naive mother, and newly gilded bride, Leon. Another element to the story is Sonny's motive in robbing the bank: to pay for a sex change operation for Leon. Though this is only a small section of the film and in no way changes the warped view of him, he is still a problematic character, and though he is cocky he still fears death. Great casting led to the part of Sal going to the incredibly talented John Cazale, who plays the needy outsider who would rather start killing the hostages then be killed himself. Carol Kane and Chris Sarandon play small roles, both unknown at the time and looking fresh faced and incredibly young. Just a wrought, beautiful, and horrifying account of a desperate man made into a leader before he was ready.
  • blkbomb
    December 26, 2011
    blkbomb
    Sonny: Bank robbing is a federal offense. You got me on kidnapping, armed robbery. You're gonna bury me, man! 

    "Anything can happen during the dog days of summer. On August 22nd, 1972, everything did"

    Sidney Lumet made the best bank robbery film ever with Dog Day Afternoon. The... read more film is an amazing look at a true life bank robbery gone wrong. The story is deeper than the robbers just wanting money. The scene of the robbery looks like a music festival. There are crowds of citizens who cheer on Sonny. There are cops everywhere, itching at the chance to put a bullet in a Sonny's head. Inside isn't as hectic as you would think a bank robbery would be. Some of  The bank employees are actually enjoying themselves to a certain degree. One even refuses the offer of leaving. 

    Sonny and his pal Sal walk into a bank around closing time and begin what they believe to be a simple robbery, but a few mistakes turn it into a media frenzy. Sonny says they are leaving, but gets a call from a police officer telling him they are surrounded. Outside are hundreds of officers. They are on roofs, fire escapes, outside of windows, and they all have guns and we all know what they want to do with them. From here, it is a bargaining game, but one of the more interesting and entertaining bargaining games you could watch. Family adds drama to the whole situation, as does a gay lover, but the film never falls into the traps those extra details could have caused.

    Al Pacino gives one of the best performances of his long career. That is saying something because the guy gave some crazy good performances. The rest of the cast is amazing too. I don't recognize many faces from the cast, but they all turn in convincing performances. What makes this a extraordinary film though, is Sidney Lumet's masterful direction. He knows exactly how to show every detail of the robbery. He doesn't just show what the cops are doing, or just what Sonny is doing; he shows it all. He shows the media, the family, the cops, the hostages and Sonny. All of which serve a vital purpose in telling this story. To leave any of it out would have been irresponsible.

    The more Lumet I watch, the more fascinated I am with him. This is one of my favorites from him, side by side with Running On Empty. I don't think Dog Day Afternoon will ever be matched when it comes to bank robbery films. Most movies like this get distracted with unimportant scenes where the clock is running out. This isn't a fast paced action film, it is a drama, which is how most robberies like this take place. There are negotiations and when there is violence it is quick and anti-climactic. Lumet uses this knowledge to his advantage to make an extremely realistic bank robbery movie.

    Sonny: Is there any special country you wanna go to? 
    Sal: Wyoming. 
    Sonny: Sal, Wyoming's not a country. 
  • fb1038944442
    December 23, 2011
    fb1038944442
    Dog Day Afternoon is one of those great naturalistic, organically satifying movies of the 70's. Based on a real robbery, It portrays one of the most believable and pathetic bank heists ever filmed. The robbers are total amateurs, and things just keep getting worse as the fim pro... read moregresses.

    Everyone on the creative team is at the top of their game, the great and eclectic Sidney Lumet, the intense robbers Al Pacino and John Cazale, sex change candidate Chris Sarandon in his first film role, and a cast of perfectly cast supporting players, and the grainy and grimy art direction and claustrophobic camera and dolly moves. The New York here is not the slick Fifth Avenue New York or even grungy 70's Time Square, but a god forsaken corner of working Brooklyn on the hottest day of the year. You almost sweat just looking at the amazingly evocative atmosphere.

    It's about flawed human beings, not masterminds, making one bad random choice after another. It's about small heroic acts of every day, working stiffs, it's about random reflex that contribute to violence, it's about media and celebrity in a corrupt age, and it's about the complexities of love and the comedy of having no self awareness.

    The perfomance by Pacino is a marvel, since he plays the bisexual head criminal with an innate sense of decency and kindness. He is the most sympathetic character in the story, and leaves an indelible impression in his canon of great performances.

    The script is a marvel as well, restrained and human. The dialogue is completely natural and no one is cheesily sassy or clever, they are just humans caught up in a extreme situation.

    On the down side, the film sags in the middle when night falls, but stick with it. It would be hard to live up to its gripping first hour. Dog Day Afternoon pays off at the climax, big time. I saw the blu ray release and was really taken with its grainy documentary look and lack of music soundtrack, which is becoming rarer in the age of digital film and surround sound. This is one of the great 70's classics.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    November 19, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    One of cinema's most outstanding bank robbery films, Sidney Lumet's Dog Day Afternoon is a work of sheer brilliance. I would consider this film to be one of the essential bank robbery films. The film has a great, raw, gritty atmosphere that adds a feel of realism to the picture. ... read moreAl Pacino and John Cazale deliver some strong performances and other key performances here are Charles Durning as Detective Moretti and Chris Sarandon as Sonny's lover, Leon. Dog Day Afternoon is a well crafted crime film that showcases Al Pacino's talent as an actor even further. This is one of the classic, quintessential 1970's works, a film that is just as important as Taxi Driver. Dog Day Afternoon is a well crafted film that is held together by the strong performances delivered by the cast members. Sidney Lumet is much underrated as a director, and he's directed one of the best crime films of the 1970's. Dog Day Afternoon is based on real facts that make the film much more exciting. Dog Day Afternoon id a film that is a must see for crime film fans. Overall this is a raw, gritty realistic film that is brilliantly directed by Sidney Lumet. Unfortunately this work has been eclipsed by some of Scorsese's pictures, and it's a shame because this film is just as good as Scorsese's films. If you come across this film, give it a viewing, this is a stunning crime film that works well because of the strong cast that deliver some memorable performances. As far as bank robbery films are concerned, Dog Day Afternoon is a classic of the genre, and though at times it does drag on a bit, the performances alone keep you engaged into its story. Lumet definitely directed a memorable and flawless film that remains a benchmark in 1970's cinema. A film definitely worth watching, its realism is unsurpassed and the story is simply brilliant.
  • fernandorafael
    April 10, 2011
    fernandorafael
    Incredible thriller, with real characters (literally) and massively entertaining. Sidney Lumet's work is impressive, as he lets the camera speak in Dog Day Afternoon. Don't even get me started on Al Pacino's performance. To sum it all up in one word: legendary.
  • axadntpron
    April 9, 2011
    axadntpron
    This movie is an absolutely fantastic film which really displays some of Lumet & Pacino's best work. Not only does Lumet give us fully fleshed out characters, but Pacino is strikingly nuanced as an angst ridden man who gets in way over his head in an attempt to stake out his piec... read moree of the American dream. I know this seems unbelievable because of the slew of filth that Pacino has starred in, but this film is proof that in the right hands Pacino can give a strong and multi-dimensional performance.
    This film is not only well directed, but is also a very brave film to be making for 1975. It tackles the media (which he will explore more in his next film Network) , issues of homosexuality & race, the Vietnam war, and class conflict. While it takes on a lot, Lumet is smart about it and doesn't bombard the audience with a bunch of heavy handed messages. While both director and star would have some duds in their future, this film really showcases the power that both of these men wield with film.
  • emilebond007
    February 27, 2011
    emilebond007
    Some minor flaws in the editing and the cinematography won't stop me from shouting that this film is pure genius.

    Al Pacino should have definitely won the Oscar for this film.
  • fb619846742
    August 16, 2010
    fb619846742
    A solid entry into the heist-thriller genre, but not the masterpiece many claim it is. Although it features one of the best Al Pacino performances I can recall, the movie's tension seems to loosen around it's 2/3 mark, as Lumet oversteps his grounds in developing Pacino's charact... read moreer while in turn basically forgetting to color Cazale's whatsoever. With that said, this is a mostly very, very good film, it starts out fast and the first hour its next to impossible to turn away from. This whole story is based on true events, and Lumet knows when to add the story's biggest twist at the right time. The ending is also very taut and is executed perfectly, capped off by Pacino's emotional facial expressions. Definitely worth checking out if you like thrillers that start out fast.
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