On HD-DVD: Dog Day Afternoon

Directed by Sidney Lumet

Starring Al Pacino, Chris Sarandon, Charles Durning

If you have never seen this classic film, now is absolutely the time. Warner Home Video has released Dog Day Afternoon on HD DVD and I couldn’t wait to give it a spin.

The Movie

The film is based on the real life events that took place in 1972 in Brooklyn when a young man went into a Brooklyn bank to rob it and ended up taking hostages and becoming a media sensation.

Al Pacino plays Sonny Wojtowicz. Sonny and his friend Sal ( John Cazale) go into the First Brooklyn Savings Bank in order to rob it. When the bank employees don’t react quick enough, the police catch on to what is happening in the bank. Sonny and Sal react by taking hostages. Soon, the streets in front of the bank are teaming with every TV Station, magazine, and newspaper that can get to the area to cover the events as they happen.

In addition to all the police and media, massive crowds started forming in front of the bank. The general public viewed Sonny and Sal as two hopeless young men that were committing a crime because of a desperate situation. What the public and media didn’t discover until later was that Sonny was robbing the bank in order to pay for a sex change for his male lover (Chris Sarandon).

Charles Durning portrays the police officer in charge of trying to contain this three ring circus that erupting spontaneously on the streets of Brooklyn one afternoon.

Dog Day Afternoon is a masterful film on every level. The writing and directing is absolutely top notch and keeps you guessing from the first frame until the last was is to become of Sonny and Sal.

Another truly remarkable aspect of the film is the performance by Al Pacino. It is one of the greatest performances captured on celluloid. He infuses Sonny with such anxiety and pathos, you can’t help but to feel for his situation he has put himself in, both in the bank robbery and his life in general. I can’t imagine another actor capturing Sonny the way that Pacino did in this film.

The performances by Charles Durning, John Cazale and Chris Sarandon are also top notch as well. If John Cazale’s face is familiar, it is because he starred with Pacino in The Godfather.

I cannot recommend Dog Day Afternoon enough. Do yourself a favor, just go out and buy this HD DVD.

10/10

The Video

Dog Day Afternoon HD DVD is presented in widescreen. The transfer is first rate. The film was shot to look more documentary style, so there is that bit of a low budget feel, but the overall image is excellent.

8/10

The Audio

Dog Day Afternoon HD DVD is presented in Dolby Digital Plus. While this is not the most dynamic presentation of a movie you have ever heard, it is decent and every bit of dialogue is crystal clear.

6/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

Dog Day Afternoon HD DVD is presented in the HD DVD smaller burgundy amaray case with the classic Dog Day Afternoon poster as the cover.

A nice selection of bonus features await your perusal on this release.  First up, a commentary with Director Sidney Lumet is offered and it is a real treat. Lumet is a very charismatic, passionate and intelligent filmmaker that provides a lot of invaluable insight into the seminal film.

Next, the Making of Dog Day Afternoon is presented. It is a four part documentary about everything from the casting to the real life events that inspired the film. New interviews with Pacino and Lumet are just some of the highlights.

Lumet: Filmmaker is a vintage promotional piece. It might not be an encyclopedia on everything Lumet, but is an entertaining watch.

The original theatrical trailer is offered as well.

All things considered, a great selection of bonus features to accompany this amazing film.

9/10

Overall ( Not an Average) 8.5/10

Suzie Lackey

The Movie 10/10

The Video 8/10

The Audio 6/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 9/10

Overall ( Not an Average) 8.5/10