The ring of truth

Rating: Null/10 (1 July 2003)

A serio-comedy can't get better than Dog Day Afternoon. At the time this movie was made, the taking of hostages for political and/or criminal reasons was a regular occurrence in the USA as well as in Western Europe (one should remember that now, in the days of "war against terrorism"). In 1973 the public experienced the birth of the so called "Stockholm syndrome"; hostages in a bank began to sympathize with their assailants. A year later, Patty Hearst was kidnapped by a group of self styled political terrorists and somehow converted into a member of that gang. I think Dog Day Afternoon was created in the light of such events  it's all the more admirable that the movie stands its own ground, reporting in a matter-of-fact way the story of a badly botched bank robbery with a hostage situation. It gives every involved character its due, but does not take sides and reports the event with a convincing faithfulness in a realistic cinematographic style.
Why is this story in most parts funny  funnier in fact than many "invented" comedies? I think, even if it sounds strange, this is due to the sense of responsibility of people on both sides show. The "brain" of the robbery, a role for which Al Pacino received a n Academy Award nomination, may be stupid and disoriented, but he instinctively feels that the fates of the hostages depend on him. And he actually cares. He has to act, but has no clue how (he actually starts complaining to the hostages that he has to take care of everything!). On the other side there is the police, led by an officer played by Charles Durning  a performance that actually was equally worthy of an Oscar. He is in a similar situation and under pressure from the authorities as well as the street mob who show hostility towards the forces of order. There is a stalemate with many strange and funny situations "written by life itself". Until the pros step in.
The behaviour of the police officers who bring the hostage situation to an end are a major asset of this movie. These are the men who enter the scene with determination and stop the comedy  which is, let's not forget, cruel and deadly dangerous. They know what their job is and how to do this job. I must say that the way they calmly analyze the situation, assess the characters of the involved, decide on a course of action and "execute" it is utterly convincing. As a viewer I felt that their conclusions and actions were dead right. They appear to be expert craftsmen who are not afraid to risk their own lives, and one shudders at the thought of what would happen were their expertise used improperly by those who command them.