Dog Day Afternoon

Rating: 7/10 (25 August 2010)

From Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Sidney Lumet (Murder on the Orient Express), here was another entry in the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die book, and I was looking forward to seeing if I agree. Based on the true story, first-time crooks Sonny Wortzik (BAFTA winning, Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Al Pacino) and Sal (The Godfather's Golden Globe nominated John Cazale) entered the Chase Manhattan First Savings Bank in Flatbush, Brooklyn hoping to carry out a quick robbery. They took their guns out and got the held up staff to take out the money, but they didn't realise that the bank had been emptied out earlier, so there isn't much money to take. Soon the phone rings, it is Police Captain Det. Sgt. Eugene Moretti (The Muppet Movie's Golden Globe nominated Charles Durning) wanting to speak to Sonny, the building is surrounded with the city's whole police force, and a crowd wanting to see something. Sonny goes outside to see for himself, and shouting his defensive words he gets the crowd on his side, but he and Sal have little options to get out of this. Sonny starts making some demands to get out of their situation, he wants a car ready to take him, Sal and the remaining hostages to the airport with a ready plane to fly abroad. While the hostages relax a little more, Sonny also demands that they bring his wife to talk to, who is revealed to be his gay lover Leon Shermer (Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Chris Sarandon), the money stolen would have been for his sex change operation. Eventually, after little progress, and the FBI led by Agent Sheldon (James Broderick) showing up, a car is ready for Sonny and Sal, and a plane is also ready at the airport. With the co-operation of the police and FBI, Sonny and Sal get the remaining hostages into the car, letting go only one, and they are joined by driver Murphy (Lance Henriksen). They reach the airport with little problems, and see the approaching plane, but Sal is the more dangerous of the two men, so Murphy shoots him between the eyes, while Sonny is arrested and ready for prison, the hostages are safe and sound. Also starring Sully Boyar as Mulvaney, Penelope Allen as Sylvia, Carol Kane as Jenny, Beulah Garrick as Margaret, Sandra Kazan as Deborah, Marcia Jean Kurtz as Miriam, Amy Levitt as Maria, John Marriott as Howard, Estelle Omens as Edna and Gary Springer as Stevie. Pacino gives a really good performance with a mixture of emotions, the supporting cast also do well in their parts, and it has some good moments to put you in the scenes, it may be a little weird but its all apparently true, so a very watchable crime drama. It won the Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay, and it was nominated for Best Film Editing and Best Picture, it won the BAFTA for Best Film Editing, and it was nominated for Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Sound Track, and it was nominated the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Screenplay. Al Pacino was number 1 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, he was number 26 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, and he was number 5 (along with Robert De Niro) on The World's Greatest Actor, the film was number 86 on 100 Years, 100 Quotes ("Attica!" Attica!"), and it was number 70 on 100 Years, 100 Thrills. Very good!