Still "Dogging' Us 30 Years Later

Rating: 8/10 (7 May 2006)

Here's a modern-day "classic" that endures, is still extremely interesting thanks once again to Al Pacino's intense performance and some humor mixed in with a tense crime story. I think first-time viewers still enjoy this movie as much as theater-goers did when they first saw it over 30 years ago.
This was supposedly a true-life event which makes it all the more interesting. The only warning I would give parents is the profanity gets a little rough at times, especially with Charles Durning, the negotiating cop who uses the Lord's name in vain about every other sentence. All the other characters were definitely interesting, especially Pacino's partner "Sal" (John Cazale). "Sal" doesn't have to say much; just the looks on his face say a lot. The story certainly is a memorable one and a big hit when it came out.
Notes: The character " Sheldon" is played by James Broderick, the father of Matthew Broderick. Casale died a few years after this film was made.