Dog Day Afternoon
Three young men set to rob a bank but as soon as they start things start to go wrong. It begins with one of the robbers bailing on the robbery after realising he cant do it leaving the other two men, Sonny (Al Pacino) and Sal (John Cazale) to deal with the escalating situation alone. The film is appropriately titled as things quickly go from bad to worse as the men find out that there is basically no money to steal as the vault was emptied earlier that day. Before the duo can leave with their measly reward the entire police force of Brooklyn arrives and surrounds the bank, swiftly followed by bus loads of reporters turning what was meant to be a simple bank robbery into a media circus.
The brilliant aspect to this film is that it is based on real events and once you see the film you realise that situations like these are too unbelievable to be anything but true. This film is not a conventional heist movie where the viewer is exposed to clever strategies and intelligent plans instead this film is about how two men got in well over their heads and how they tried to bargain their way to safety. I can't help but feel as if this is a forgotten film and doesn't have the reputation that it deserves. This is an excellent heist film and showcases one of Pacino's best performances yet he will always be remembered for other films such as The Godfather and Scarface.
This is on all accounts Pacino's film he takes control of the situation inside the bank and he meticulously tries to manipulate a way out. He is never made out to be a violent or aggressive character with his gun only for show. He even shows compassion with the hostages allowing them to ring their loved ones, have bathroom breaks, receive medical assistance and he even arranges for food to be delivered to them. Pacino is continually moving with his nervous energy and frantic eyes adding suspense to the film. Cazale on the other hand is the silent observer in the bank who has a much more threatening and unstable persona, yet he too is revealed to be just an ordinary man in an extraordinary situation. Cazale has a very familiar face yet he has only appeared in seven films as he tragically died in 1978 at the age of of 42. Even though he died at such a young age he has a very impressive resume appearing in The Godfather, The Godfather Part 2 and The Deer Hunter three films which are regarded as cinema classics.
The events in the bank are really quite comical as the two men display unconventional tactics and are evidently not stereotypical bank robbers. In fact you almost want them to succeed especially when Sonny chants "Attica! Attica!" referring to the Attica prison riot of 1971 where police used brutal force to control the uprising, causing the deaths of 39 people including 10 innocent correctional officers and employees. Sonny caused the building crowd to to cheer in support of him as they remembered the tragic events, seeing him almost as a hero.
The main events of the film unfold in the first 15 minutes and it is intriguing to see how the remaining three quarters of the film pan out. the film does drag out too long as Sonny and Sal try to manipulate their way to safety. The amazing director Sidney Lumet was no doubt trying to build suspense however it was a little unsuccessful in parts. Lumet was extremely clever in his direction as he basically had only one location to work with. Yet he was still successful in achieved a blend of drama, humour, tragedy and at times suspense when bringing this amazing story to life. It is a credit to the screen writing in the film to ensure the story is so engaging, most notable are the scenes where Sonny's motives for robbing the bank are revealed in a surprising turn of events. Being unfamiliar with the real life events I was unaware how the film would end, luckily the film had the dramatic ending that it deserved.
I couldn't help but feel sorry for Sonny and Sal and their tragically unsuccessful robbery attempt. The saddest part of the pairs campaign is that it was all for the heartbreaking sum of $1100. This is a film showcasing how not to rob a bank.
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