Mesmerizing and Pacino and Cazale Rock!

Rating: 10/10 (18 October 2004)

What a great film. Where to begin? The opening Elton John music--perfect to help set the mood, which is the only time there is "background music" so that the effect is like watching a real-time documentary with hidden cameras. The
acting--what acting?? The characters all feel so real and so perfectly drawn from the tour de force of Pacino's Sonny to the unbelievably intriguing Cazale's Sal (what a tragic, tragic shame that his acting career was cut short--but he sure left us with some of the most memorable characters in the history of American Film) to all of the "bit" players, each a living breathing recognizable person. The New York feel to the film is perfect. The directing of Lumet is just astonishing. As has been commented on--we feel that we are experiencing each and every
moment of this hostage scenario--to the extent that by the end of it we are also exhausted, hungry and sort of in an altered state. Much of the film is like a roller-coaster ride--we do a lot of laughing, and watch the story unfold in
amazement--and then that look on Sonny's face in the airport , filled with so much anguish, that the film also becomes incredibly poignant. Have a great,
rollicking time--and see this absolutely top-notch film.