Rating: 
Summary: a forerunner of reality TV
Review: This film is based on a true story and stars a young Al Pacino as a bank robber who leads a heist in Brooklyn on August 22, 1972. He holds 9 people hostage as he makes his demands to the 250 policemen and FBI agents gathered outside. Also gathered outside are crowds of people and the news media, making them the hottest thing on TV. Sonny even has fans who chant his name every time he appears at the door to make negotiations for his escape. Most notable of Sonny's lack of experience in crime is when he orders pizza for his hostages via the FBI, then thinks he has to pay for it. He gets some marked $5 bills for this. The pizza guy is cheered as he delivers to Sonny, then waves to the crowd and yells "I'm a star!" because this routine duty was broadcast live. There is also some Stockholm syndrome going on as Sonny's hostages start to like him. As the movie plays out, we learn why Sonny wanted to rob the bank so badly, and it is truly unexpected, especially for 1972. In addition, I appreciate that Sonny's wife is played by a compentent actress who knows how to deliver her lines, and she is overweight and harried, not a supermodel in denim overalls which is how they would cast her today. She is believable and adds to the gritty feel of the whole dog day afternoon.
Rating: 
Summary: A Bank Robbery Gone Terribly Wrong
Review: Without showing a trace of his icy performance as Michael Corleone in "The Godfather" parts 1 & 2, Al Pacino made a radical departure by playing a bisexual bank robber in "Dog Day Afternoon." Here's a hilarious (but apparently true) story about Sonny (Pacino) who stages a bank robbery to finance his lover's sex change operation. Within minutes, the attempted robbery heads for disaster, as the police and media surround the bank while Sonny holds the employees hostage for the entire day. Even after nearly 30 years, "Dog Day Afternoon" is a marvel to see. This film won a well-deserved 1975 Academy Award for its witty screenplay, and Pacino's performance ranks among his best. Unfortunately, those who are looking for a deluxe-edition DVD will be sorely disappointed with this release. The picture is incredibly grainy, with spots, hairs, and marks. The sound is 1-channel mono, instead of a 5.1 surround remix. But the biggest slap on the face is the virtual lack of features on this DVD: we don't even get a trailer. All we get are production notes. Movie buffs and Pacino diehards will pick this up, but everyone else should hold off, rent the film, and hope that Warner Bros. will release a special edition of this great movie.
Rating:
Summary: This movie is so good!
Review: This movie rocks! You should definitely buy it!
Rating:
Summary: Best Performance Ever?
Review: I saw this movie because of my respect for Sidney Lumet. He is up there with Scorsese as one of the finest American directors. This film is as good as Lumet's other masterpiece Twelve Angry Men. However, I don't want to talk about Lumet in this review. I want to talk about Al Pacino whose performance I regard as being the best in cinema's golden history. Pacino's performance as Sonny is breathless. He says so himself: "I can't breathe". The film's short time period helps create this feeling of tension and intensity inside Pacino. He is a complicated character who I still can't fully understand after numerous viewings. Is he really gay? Why does he treat Leon so badly and yet the whole bank heist is in Leon's best interest. What is the relationship with Sal? Why would he bring such a liability along with him? We get to know Sonny in short visits by Sonny's parents and Sonny's wife. He is an enormously affecting character. Though Sonny and Sal are the bank robbers, we grow fond of them because of their deeply moving performances. We share in Sonny's anxiety in his relationship with the FBI. He trusts no one. Not even the bank tellers who he befriends. The best scenes to watch Pacino at work are: his frustration when the tellers have to go to the bathroom; the famous "ATTICA" scene; the improvised phone-call to Leon (Chris Sarandon); and the finale "Don't shoot me". Sonny is one of the greatest characters in the movies perhaps because he is a real life one. And Pacino really finds the spot to make him into a compassionate character.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining - An Improvement From Lumet's 'Serpico'
Review: Well-done, tense drama of a botched bank robbery in Brooklyn in which two misfits commit one absurd blunder after another and turn a criminal act into a three-ring circus, what with the police, crowds and the media swarming upon the bank to observe the comedy of errors. Al Pacino is superb as Sonny who wants the money to finance a sex-change operation for his transsexual lover (well done by Chris Sarandon). Aiding and abetting Sonny is half-wit Sal (John Cazale in a solid characterization) who chooses Wyoming as a foreign country destination for a safe haven. Charles Durning scores as Detective Moretti who spars with Sonny throughout the afternoon and arranges "safe" passage for him and Sal to JFK and their would-be flight to freedom. There are snippets of dialogue from the 1956 feature film, "The Lone Ranger", that is heard in the background during the hostage standoff inside the bank. Ironic because the Ranger's law-and-order message falls on deaf criminal ears during the commission of the felony. Sidney Lumet's Oscar-nominated direction is sharp throughout. Based on actual events, "Dog Day Afternoon" is another great winner from the 1970s, Hollywood's second Golden Age. 5 stars out of 5.
Rating:
Summary: Boiling Point
Review: Dog Day Afternoon is another classic film of the 70's, that thanks to a strong cast, and the sure handed direction of Sidney Lumet, still holds up quite well. Even by today's standards of having eye candy over substance, can not deminish the film's intensity. Sonny Vorshak (Al Pacino) and his friend Sal (John Cazale)are in need of some money. After exhausting all of their options, the two men decide to rob a New York City bank,in broad daylight, on a hot Summer afternoon. When the bandit's plan goes a bit haywire, they are forced to hold hostages, and engage in a standoff with the police. Detective Eugene Moretti (Charles Durning)is put in charge of the situation and must find a way to end the seige. The task is made more difficult as Sonny soon becomes something of a hero to the city. Lumet captures the mood and tension of a city on edge, with the some fine filmmaking skill, and a gritty realism that marked many films made during 70's. Like his classic film, 12 Angry Men, Lumet makes good use out of limited sets and locations Once again Pacino proves why he is such a great actor. He is not just an actor playing a role, he Is Sonny Vorshak, no ifs ands or buts about it. The rest of the cast is tops as well. The fact that the movie is based on a real life incident is only icing on the cake Dog Day Afternoon is a five star film that deserves to be a better DVD. I hope that a special edition version will find its way to a release date soon. For now, the current disc features only a few production notes,in the way of extras. The film can be viewed in either the widescreen or fullscreen formats Recommended until the special edition DVD comes along
Rating: 
Summary: A bank robbery gone very very wrong
Review: Al Pacino's glorious little film about a couple of would be bank robbers who simply have a really bad day. Brought to you by the same team that would also bring us Serpico, Pacino is simply electrifying in this film about a bank robbery in New York City that simply turned into a media circus on live television. Filmed soon after Pacino's stunning entry into the hollywood lights as Michael Corleone in Coppola's Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon cemented Pacino as a legitimate star in his own right. With a rivetting performance Pacino simply oozes panic and sheer hysteria. The film begins when Pacino and two friends enter a bank and begin the heist. The film makes little effort to set things up, prefering to get right into the action. Once it starts it never stops. Just moments after the bank robbery begins one of the would be thieves simply loses his nerve and walks out. Things get worse from there. From a little homemade fire to snipey cops ready to blow his brains out on the tarmac this movie simply screams tension. It was one of the very first Bank robbery movies which were rather popular for a long time. Pacino is simply terrific in this film as an on the edge psychopath who simply wants to pull the job off. But he's clearly in over his head and sinking fast. This movie isn't for everyone. It's not one of the best movies ever, and it's simply not for all tastes. But if you are a Pacino fan or love high tension drama's you may enjoy this. There's never a dull moment and it's beautifully scripted. The weirdest part of the whole thing is that it's largely based on a true story, if for no other reason than that, this movie should be seen. If you are an Al Pacino fan, this is a brilliant must have.
Rating:
Summary: Dog Day Afternoon
Review: Great movie, one of Pacino's best, bye it now
Rating:
Summary: Pacino is great as usual
Review: Al Pacino gave his strongest performance as Sonny,a crazy bank robber who failed in his robbery operation along with his dump partner Sal [played by the late great actor John Cazale].Although the movie is great, but the DVD has some problems with the sound and there is no extras.
Rating:
Summary: OFFBEAT GRIPPING CRIME DRAMA
Review: Plot: An inept bank robber and his dimwitted buddy hold up a Brooklyn bank and everything
goes down hill from there. Review: Al (Sonny) pacino is in fine form in this movie as is the rest of the cast. Filled
with memorable quotes bad language and black humor. This fine paced film is a trip
to 70s attitudes before political correctness you won't soon forget.
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