Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Director: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Penelope Allen
Synopsis:
A bank robbery goes awry and turns into a hostage standoff.
Impressions:
As far as bank job/hostage movies go, this is definitely one of the best. I really like how so much of the dialog is improvised. It gives a very naturalistic feel. Al Pacino steals the show and while John Cazale's performance is more subtle, it's strong as well. Charles Durning is also really good as Moretti the negotiator. The film capitalizes on the social factors of the era, which gives it all the more punch. There's also a strong dynamic of both Stockholm and Lima Syndrome, which can be interesting if done well and it's done well here. I definitely encourage you to give this one a watch.
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