funny and original

Rating: 9/10 (14 April 2015)

Amateur criminals Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino), his friend Sal Naturale (John Cazale) and Stevie try to rob the First Brooklyn Savings Bank. Stevie has second thoughts and Sonny lets him go. Then they find out that most of the money is gone after the daily cash pickup. Sonny seems to know most of the bank procedures. Then they get a call from police Sergeant Moretti (Charles Durning). The bank has been completely surrounded. It becomes a media circus and they become instant celebrity. The police finds Sonny's lover Leon Shermer (Chris Sarandon) in Bellevue. Sonny needs the money for Leon's sex change.
The hostages and bumbling robbers are hilarious. It's a robbery gone wrong story where the roles are often switched around. So many of these characters are such originals. Al Pacino is giving one of his best performances of his life. That's a life filled with great performances. This is my favorite Sidney Lumet movie.