5/5 One of Pacino's classic performances
  by Dennis W. Wong
It was a rough year for the Academy since there were two great films that year: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and this winner, "Dog Day Afternoon" featuring a classic iconic performance by Al Pacino. Now, I've fortunately seen Pacino on stage back in the '90's in David Mamet's "American Buffalo" and he performed with so much intensity that I was over-awed. I think very few of his film performances have that intensity that his stage performances have had but this one shortly is the closest we'll get to Pacino, the stage animal. Watching this film again in a brilliant HD DVD transfer, is like watching a stage play. Director Sidney Lumet was at his best capturing the chaos of New York City life and the supporting cast is phenomenal: Charles Durning, Lance Hendrickson, the late James Broderick and John Cazale, nearly matching Pacino in intensity as his co-hort (of course, he also played his brother but this role certainly showed his versatility) in crime. It's a pity that he died so young from bone cancer (The Deer Hunter being his last film)but this film proven why he was so reverred in the acting world. It's a sad fact that Pacino could not top this performance or others in that period (And Justice for All; Scarecrow) with minor efforts like the execreable "88 Minutes" or "Righteous Kill" with DeNiro. Perhaps it is just the dearth of good material that causes great actors like Pacino to periodically return to the stage, his first love. So do check this one out for his off beat performance (180 degrees different from "The Godfather").

5/5 "Daring"
  by Terry Richard (Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada)
One of the best films from the 1970's along with "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" and "Taxi Driver", "Dog Day Afternoon" was nominated for 5 Oscars inlcuding nods for Best Picture of 1975 and Best Actor for Al Pacino. Pacino plays a bank robber who holds a bank hostage one sweltering August day in Brooklyn in order to steal money so his gay lover can have a sex-change operation. Sidney Lumet does an excellent job of directing and bringing out the best from his cast. The title comes from the fact that August is referred to as a "dog day" month where the weather in New England can be extremely hot, with the story taking place one afternoon. The movie is gritty, daring, fast-paced, and involving, and although Pacino plays a villin you actually start to feel sorry for his motivations and the fact that he would go to these kind of extremes to fulfill his boyfriend's happiness. James Broderick and Charles Durning turn out memorable performances as the police officers who try to reason with the Pacino character outside the bank. The DVD comes with a new widescreen presentation after only being available in full-screen for many years, along with documentaries and featurettes, and the original theatrical trailer.

4/5 Yet another brilliant performance by Al pacino!
  by Satyajeet Kumar (Chenna,India)
Again Mr. Pacino got unlucky!How on earth he hasn't got the academy award for this brilliant performance! I love all Jack Nickolson work but honestly if you compare his work on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest against Dog day will agree with me that Al could have got the Academy.Pacino acting is far energetic, tough to do(in dog day context), brilliant, classic and what a amazing performance!It requires a lot of dare to do a subject like DOG DAY after becoming an Icon (after Godfather Hit). Many contemporaries had refused to work on this project. He turned down the "over to do One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and worked on this movie. In short: Lumet (Direcor) has done great job, he knows how to deal with tense situations, Superb acting,Pacino in his splendor, Should have got 2 Oscar for this role. The pacing is extremely good. The issue of homosexuality was very well dealt with, not preaching in any way, understanding and considerate, everything was far better than any politically correct angle we may find in today's movies. This movie deals with common man problems. A man who is in middle of robbery still he is considerate.
I have watched and will keep watching this movie to enjoy Al Pacino great acting. He is so fresh! I give 4and half out of 5 starts to this movie.



5/5 Sal and his pal, Al
  by C. Rocklein
In mood, acting, location and plot, this story delivers. Al delivers. So does his right hand man, John Cazale, who plays Sal. They really work great off each other. He is as good as Pacino in this movie, and as important; from the moments of Cazales first lines there's always something kind of powerful and not what you're expecting. The story itself is fun in a tragicomic kind of way and should hold your interest pretty well the full 2 hours. Cinematography is great and I'd have to say this is the best Sydney Lumet film I've seen with the exception of "Network" maybe.

The 2-disc edition has lots of special features which make for interesting watching, with Pacino and Lumet talking about their work and the film in "A 4-part Anniversary Documentary" which you may be inspired to watch after seeing the film. Also included is a film commentary by the director and a featurette, "Lumet: Film Maker" which was made in the 70s around the time they made this film. "Dog Day Afternoon" has subtitles in English (yes!), Spanish and French. An excellent and surprising period piece (1975) which gives a portrayal of an incident that happened 3 years prior (1972). Would appeal to fans of 'true crime' stories, 70s classics, Sydney Lumet and Al Pacino. I saw this after catching Scarecrow with Pacino and Gene Hackman, also a winner.

1/5 A movie lover
  by Daryoush Movahedi (San Jose, USA)
I will never buy dvd movies from Amazon.com again. The past 3 times I ended up with different regions dvd that did not work on my system. Very disappointed. Found that oout lately that you get bumped into an australian Amazon.com or however this mess happens. Very dissatisfied.