'Dog Day Afternoon' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times

A. O. Scott reviews Sidney Lumet's 1975 drama "Dog Day Afternoon."
Related Article: tinyurl.com/nytimes123
Subscribe to the Times Video newsletter for free and get a handpicked selection of the best videos from The New York Times every week: bit.ly/timesvideonewsletter
Subscribe on KZbin: bit.ly/U8Ys7n
Watch more videos at: nytimes.com/video
---------------------------------------------------------------
Want more from The New York Times?
Twitter: / nytvideo
Facebook: / nytimes
Google+: plus.google.com/+nytimes/
Whether it's reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, New York Times video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world. It's all the news that's fit to watch. On KZbin.
'Dog Day Afternoon' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times
/ thenewyorktimes

[@schnarchei6572]

I still consider this to be Al Pacino's most stellar performance in a career of stellar performances. ("Serpico" and "The Godfather coming mighty close). The choices Pacino makes are breathtaking, brave and unexpected throughout the whole movie. Sydney Lumet deserves a lot of credit to let Pacino run with it but not run away with it. What a pairing: an actor's actor and an actor's director.

[@connorbrennan4233]

Some may disagree, I was actually rooting for Sonny to escape and get the money. When I watched this movie in my Criminology class, and Sal got shot, I was like "No!"

[@T800System]

That's the power of the story. We end up identifying with Sonny, even though he is ostensibly the bad guy.

[@sunnythymes5444]

Connor Brennan We allll were rooting for Sonny.

[@michaeljohn1462]

Connor Brennan Same here

[@cibibi]

@@T800System it's because Sonny is AL PACINO.

[@dynjarren7523]

Me too!

[@p4tches]

the best acting performance ive ever seen in a movie

[@CitizenKANE2277]

Great film, Lumet is a terrific director. This is probably Pacino's best performance besides "Serpico."

[@sunnythymes5444]

CitizenKANE2277 I agree...his BEST film👍

[@JFadel]

I recently saw this film for the first time and I must say it blew my mind away! Sidney Lumet had startled me before with Network, which I consider possibly the greatest American film ever made, but with Dog Day Afternoon I simply was yet again thrown off my seat or sofa which is where I was sitting at the time I saw this film. Movies can't get any better than this like Scott said. It is truly a masterpiece!

[@vampira1409]

@tatelabianca I agree with you in regards to Cazale. He is criminally underrated, probably because he only starred in the grand total of five movies - but what movies they were! The Godfather I&II, The Deer Hunter, The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon - that's one hell of a track record. And he is probably the only actor ever whose movies have all been Oscar-nominated. This particular movie entirely rests on the chemistry between him and Pacino, it just sparkles. Too bad his career was cut short.

[@michaeljohn1462]

I actually think Al Pacino deserved the Oscar over Jack Nicholson. He was brilliant in this movie. Now compare it with Scarface - I mean talk about range! Best actor ever.

[@dynjarren7523]

Michael John Yeah, Wack Nicholson is so Overrated! He plays himself in every movie. That’s not acting!

[@isakdahl7054]

D RolyPolyMan Are you stupid... First off, that’s not even true... Second of all, that’s what EVERYONE did in this movie...

[@m.e.d.7997]

@@isakdahl7054 The character Al played in DDA was not easy to play. Maybe you need to look again at him in this movie.

[@isakdahl7054]

Margaret Yeah, he was amazing. I can’t even remember writing this comment. Reading it now is making me angry at myself!😂 Sorry!

[@m.e.d.7997]

@@isakdahl7054 Such a good movie. And I loved "Sonny's" reaction to "Wyoming". You must know that John Cazale improvised that response on the spot. And Al's response to it was superb.

[@T800System]

Such an exceptional film. One of my absolute favourites past and present.

[@Madbandit77]

A Sidney Lumet masterpiece, and it's one of my sister's favorite films.

[@sunnythymes5444]

Roy Phillips It's one of my favorite films too.

[@Madbandit77]

@Julian Borges I said it was a masterpiece...:/

[@ezesaw]

Al Pacino, Chris Sarandon, John Cazale and Charles Durning.... amazing cast!!! =)

[@sunnythymes5444]

Peter TortugaPinja I agree!🙄👍👏

[@lamb4life327]

He was robbed of that Oscar.

[@Pazuzu82]

Sidney lumet also directed serpico which had al playing a undercover police officer that that didn't go along with the other cops taking bribes and dirty money playing a complicated character, another awesome Pacino film!

[@anniemihn]

Prefer Pacino over Brando.

[@mamabari07]

Sonny boy!

[@Aman-nk5uq]

De Niro is the greatest ever.

[@dheerajhazarika1836]

Al Pacino was at the height of his acting best...back then. Others were brilliant too. Sidney Lumet as a director was way ahead of his time.

[@GilsonPacker]

É absolutamente inacreditável a força desse trabalho de Lumet. Sua contemporaneidade extrapola décadas com rara inteligência de quem pode observar o extrapolar do cotidiano de vidas,

[@paulorego9334]

Wyoming...gets me every time!

[@ricardocantoral7672]

One of my favorite films by Sidney Lumet and my favorite Al Pacino performance!

[@Xaxannoul4]

Al Pacino!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Just my fav actor!

[@michaeljohn1462]

Anna Sigma Mine too.

[@SolaceEasy]

I like how you were reviewing movies from before you were born

[@BinkieMcFartnuggets]

This is an awesome movie, but for some reason no one can answer me this one question: Why did Sonny burn the bank register? What was the point in doing that? It did after all, get him caught.

[@josemanuelprieto3280]

I think that was to avoid tracking the serial numbers of the banknotes

[@jityr2]

Who keeps putting ads before these videos?! Can someone show me how to report him for spam?!

[@heyalz]

best movie.

[@m.e.d.7997]

Wish I has seen this in the theatre in summer 1975. This was an awesome movie.

[@dynjarren7523]

The ending was Brutal but you could tell they weren’t going to get away. This film has so much tension building up that it could give you an anxiety attack or a heart attack. It’s basically a heist picture about two guys who decide to rob a bank and then everything goes wrong. Pacino really shines in this. It was his breakout role to stardom! This film also has an unpredictable twist in the last half. I won’t ruin it by telling you. Rent it and see. Great Potboiler and intense Crime Drama!

[@Pistone84]

Cool video, but why are you showing anything from the ending?!?!?

[@EyeLean5280]

Yeah, there are a couple of really egregious spoilers in this series. I wish they wouldn't.

[@nejugepas1990]

His voice has changed a lot. unbelivable. It souds like someone completely different.

[@sunnythymes5444]

Sahar I Love him and John Casaves in this movie

[@georgeguja6155]

@@sunnythymes5444 it's John Cazale

[@detriplea]

Although I have already seen the film, is is not quite convenient how they spoil all the endings of the films Scott reviews?

[@sunnythymes5444]

This is my favorite Pavino movie. John Cadaver was also EXCELLENT!!!!

[@eileenpizarro1558]

Al Pacino is the best actor ever. Whether he wants to continue making movies or not the films that he has done are timeless and brilliant and his brilliance is worthy of an abundance of accolades. Panic In Needle Park, The Godfather1&2, Scarecrow, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, And Justice For All, Glengarry Glen Ross, Donnie Brasco just to name a few. Bravo Mr. Pacino.👏👏👏👏 “chi chi , go get the yayo.”😉

[@tomloft2000]

true story.

[@FetaCheese222]

@Shelby596 De Niro.

[@mrboxandboogy]

We loved Dog Day Afternoon so much, we reviewed it! 🔥 kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3e5mJp4f7dme9U

[@TheArtfryne]

audio tip: compression sidechain - vocal

[@emillelee5999]

I know that's right!

[@zimfromBM]

Up so the bank people wouldnt know how much money he had taken and it would be harder to trace. He shouldve just taken it with him, and done everything like a hundred times quicker. Cause yeah he fucked up pretty bad.

[@nejugepas1990]

What? Did they kill Al Pacino? How could they?

[@grahamfarquharson2786]

Sahar No, just arrested him at the airport. He accomplice got shot.

[@EyeLean5280]

No, they didn't.

[@sutherland9]

Mr. Scott - why did your dialogue begin with "Did you ever have one of those days WHERE nothing goes quite the way you planned it?". The word 'where' is used for locations, such as "the city where I was born". You should have said "Did you ever have one of those days WHEN or IN WHICH nothing goes quite the way you planned it?"

[@FetaCheese222]

@burrfscott Not unless they have Christopher Walken as Sonny.

[@benrichards2017]

Erica Attica what does it mean pls reply

[@realdeel37]

Ben Richards It's a reference to a prison riot and abuses that were taking place in jails at the time. I always thought of it as a joke, a pop culture reference he's using to stir the crowd up.

[@sunnythymes5444]

Ben Richards Attica was a hugely publicized prison riot where cops killed some prisoners who were complaining of bad treatment.

[@kinoptika]

SPOILER ALERT!

[@chrismineo6151]

Mever nominated Cazale. They took him for granted

[@ultrakool]

no accidents, we hit a bump and the back of your head blows apart. drive carefully, copper. sal, you sap

[@jefferysmom696]

*Poor Sal...then he Get it in Godfather!!!*

[@chrismineo6151]

Poor John Cazale, He gets murdered in the Godfather ad then Dog Day"'''''''' even in real life.. he neevr stoo a chance.. I love Cazale.

[@user-yr3ze9hc7o]

Mr. Connor's i also saw this classic films, yrs, 1974s i was a teenager then and i knew any things about character's, but i do knew they's 're fictional, also the real individ...its person thats 're the felons morj of the times its realities, but its so sad becuz...when do horrorable act robbing bnk, corps, org, and gets caughts of a pros....and also nocti...drg too its terrible and no individ... wanted too have's any things too do with you's, neither

[@gerardwaysfavorite]

no

[@MoeGreensRightEye]

Everything and everybody looked so great in the 70s* *yeah not really lol

[@USM20231]

It all Looked unique, well in the movie

[@ishworrajkumar444]

Lol. Here after the 9hrs bank robbery.

[@ShittiestChannelOnYT]

Ruined the ending >=l

[@calql8er]

Skunk at the garden party. I hated this movie. Five minutes of Pacino talking to his 'lover' on the phone. PAH-lease. Give me a break.

[@jesseowenvillamor6348]

Nah it's one of the best movies

[@calql8er]

@@jesseowenvillamor6348 You have your right to be wrong.

[@jesseowenvillamor6348]

@@calql8er Nah I'm right

[@calql8er]

@@jesseowenvillamor6348 As you wish

[@jesseowenvillamor6348]

@@calql8er I'm just right