Dog day afternoon is a wonderful masterpiece from director Sidney Lumet(The Verdict, Serpico, 12 angry men). It also happens to be my favorite Lumet film. Based on true events, this film follows rather closely what happened one hot august afternoon when Our lead characters, Sonny(Al Pacino) and his partner Sal(John Cazale) attempt a bank robbery to help finance a sex change operation for Sonny's Boyfriend Leon(Chris Sarandon- brother of Susan Sarandon). The heist goes bad leaving Sonny and Sal inside the bank, and a hundred cops outside of the bank at a standoff. What happens next is terrific, electrifying, and hilarious as Sonny turns the whole situation into a near circus side show. Sonny leaves Sal to handle the Hostages as he steps outside the front door of the bank and negotiates with Detective Sgt. Eugene Moretti(Charles Durning)to try and find a way out of what seems to be an impossible situation. Charles Durning turns in an incredible performance and Al Pacino delivers an Oscar nominated, pitch perfect performance as the hysterically funny lead bank robber. A side note also is that this is certainly John Cazale's(The Godfather, Deer Hunter) finest performance before his untimely death just 2 years later. There is never a dull moment throughout Dog day afternoon, and several actors here give some of the best performances of their careers. A masterful classic!
Dog day afternoon is a wonderful masterpiece from director Sidney Lumet(The Verdict, Serpico, 12 angry men). It also happens to be my favorite Lumet film. Based on true events, this film follows rather closely what happened one hot august afternoon when Our lead characters, Sonny(Al Pacino) and his partner Sal(John Cazale) attempt a bank robbery to help finance a sex change operation for Sonny's Boyfriend Leon(Chris Sarandon- brother of Susan Sarandon). The heist goes bad leaving Sonny and Sal inside the bank, and a hundred cops outside of the bank at a standoff. What happens next is terrific, electrifying, and hilarious as Sonny turns the whole situation into a near circus side show. Sonny leaves Sal to handle the Hostages as he steps outside the front door of the bank and negotiates with Detective Sgt. Eugene Moretti(Charles Durning)to try and find a way out of what seems to be an impossible situation. Charles Durning turns in an incredible performance and Al Pacino delivers an Oscar nominated, pitch perfect performance as the hysterically funny lead bank robber. A side note also is that this is certainly John Cazale's(The Godfather, Deer Hunter) finest performance before his untimely death just 2 years later. There is never a dull moment throughout Dog day afternoon, and several actors here give some of the best performances of their careers. A masterful classic!