Review of Dog Day Afternoon (1975) by Reid V — 08 Apr 2011

This movie is an absolutely fantastic film which really displays some of Lumet & Pacino's best work. Not only does Lumet give us fully fleshed out characters, but Pacino is strikingly nuanced as an angst ridden man who gets in way over his head in an attempt to stake out his piece of the American dream. I know this seems unbelievable because of the slew of filth that Pacino has starred in, but this film is proof that in the right hands Pacino can give a strong and multi-dimensional performance.

This film is not only well directed, but is also a very brave film to be making for 1975. It tackles the media (which he will explore more in his next film Network) , issues of homosexuality & race, the Vietnam war, and class conflict. While it takes on a lot, Lumet is smart about it and doesn't bombard the audience with a bunch of heavy handed messages. While both director and star would have some duds in their future, this film really showcases the power that both of these men wield with film.