Dog Day Afternoon

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BadNews R Dog Day Afternoon is one of those golden-age Al Pacino films that truly shows why he became such a legendary actor. At its core, it’s a bank robbery story, but it’s not just action — it blends in comedy, tension, and drama in a way that keeps you hooked from beginning to end. Al Pacino is absolutely magnetic here. Every time he’s on the screen, he commands it. This was during his prime, and you can feel it in every line, every expression, and every frantic move he makes. He brings both intensity and humor, and it makes the whole situation feel like it could spiral out of control at any second. The direction is just as strong. Sidney Lumet did an incredible job capturing the grit, chaos, and raw emotion of a New York summer gone wrong. He knows when to lean into the tension of the robbery and when to let the absurd comedy of the situation shine through. The film almost feels like you’re trapped in the bank with them, sweating alongside the characters as things keep escalating. That said, I’ll admit — some of the supporting cast didn’t work for me. A couple of the bank tellers had voices that were so squeaky and over-the-top, it felt like nails on a chalkboard and briefly pulled me out of the scene. Some of the side characters also came across as a little too goofy or exaggerated compared to the grounded realism Pacino brought. But ultimately, none of that takes away from the fact that this is a classic. Pacino ties everything together and reminds you why this movie has stood the test of time. The robbery itself constantly feels like it’s on the brink of disaster — and whether it actually goes bad or not, you’ll have to watch and find out. The coolest part? It’s coming back to theaters for one day only tomorrow, and that’s exactly why I revisited it today. If you’ve never seen Dog Day Afternoon, now is the perfect chance to experience it on the big screen. It’s intense, funny, unpredictable, and pure Pacino at his peak. Highly recommended. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/03/25 Full Review Gabriel M Dog Day Afternoon is one of those movies that grabs you from the start and never lets go. Everyone who worked on this film did an amazing job, from the cast to the direction to the writing. The story feels tense, unpredictable, and very real. But the absolute highlight here is Al Pacino. His performance as Sonny is nothing short of incredible — he slayed the role in the best possible way. The raw emotion he brings to the screen makes you feel every ounce of Sonny’s desperation and humanity. Pacino proves why he is one of the greatest actors of all time, and this film remains one of his best. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/30/25 Full Review Mackenzie A The film which all other heist films are built upon. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/28/25 Full Review John F Should have won Best Picture. Succeeded where Cuckoo failed in its indictment of the US power structure. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/28/25 Full Review Sayan C Has a really intresting premise, but not as great as everyone claims it to be. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review chris h 70s bank robbery masterpiece Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/05/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Dog Day Afternoon

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