Interesting movie from 30 years back.

Rating: 7/10 (4 February 2005)

I rented this movie based on Pacino's other works. I was born 1980 and could never relate to the feelings that surrounded this film (screaming "Attica" and the references to Vietnam) except for the universal feel of greed and desperation.
Al Pacino played a perfect bank robber and over-the-top salesman to the detectives who started to surround the bank that he was taking over with his partner in crime, Sal. From the first move, everything about their operations goes haywire. First, their wingman flees, saying he can't go through with it and crying. Just great. Then the tellers sound the silent alarm, and everything after wards is almost comical at what an amateur bank robber he is. Sal is basically the silent type and hardly has anything to add to anything during the heist. The rest of movie follows this formula, including a wife that gets on Pacino's back, a crazy talkative mother, and "cons" who keep trying to throw Pacino's character off the subject to getting a plane for him and his hostages (and Sal) to go to Algeria. (Why Algeria?) The story was great and the screenplay was even better. The grainy look of the 70's film showed through, but it works because it's based on a story back in 1972. It is a little dated, as stated before, which kind of hurts newer audiences of Pacino's classic works, only because the references are not quite as clear. There was no music at all during this film, and everything seemed to be shot on a very tight budget, using only one back-lot and maybe the most expensive shot of the airplane tarmac. I doubt that any extras got paid, either (except maybe the ones who got closeups).
I gave it a 7/10. It is a great Pacino film, but not as great as others. He acts superbly without any resistance to his anger or sadness or whatever other feeling should overcome any a bank robber. I loved the moment when he dictates his last will and testament, almost knowing that he's definitely going to die or be put away for a really long time. Also his reactions to his wife's constant stream of questioning and confusion were classic. And of course, Attica Attica Attica.