Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Directed by: Sidney Lumet | 124 minutes | action, drama | Actors: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon, Judith Malina, Dominic Chianese, Carol Kane, Penelope Allen, Sully Boyar, Beulah Garrick, Sandra Kazan, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Amy Levitt, John Marriott, Estelle Omens, Gary Springer , James Broderick, Carmine Foresta

In the beginning of ‘Swordfish’, John Travolta’s character gives a long monologue about the state of cinema. He complains about the lack of realism, then, to make his point, calls the movie “Dog Day Afternoon.” A film based on real events. He said the bank robber was not ruthless enough and should have shot hostages to see how far the press and police would let him go before his demands were met.

However, it is precisely this lack of ruthlessness that makes the film so fascinating. Al Pacino’s Sonny may know what he does when he robs the bank—he served in Vietnam and worked at a bank himself—but he remains very human at the same time. He does not want to unnecessarily frighten employees and listens to what they have to say and often meets their wishes. It is entirely believable that a Stockholm syndrome, in which a special bond develops between hostages and hostage takers, occurs in this case. If you’re in a life-threatening situation and dependent on your hostage taker, you can envision a developing bond somewhere, but this will probably be a lot easier if the person in question is very sympathetic.

The viewer’s sympathy, apart from the hostages themselves, lies with the criminal in the film, Sonny. From the start you see that this is not a bloodthirsty, or purely money-hungry criminal. You don’t know his story, but he will undoubtedly have a good reason for his actions. And indeed, it turns out that he does not want the money for himself, but for the sex operation of his (homosexual) partner. So it is a completely altruistic act.

Pacino acts phenomenally, and carries the entire film. He comes across as insecure and determined at the same time. As the day progresses, you see the despair growing in him. The situation escalates and becomes increasingly hopeless, when he only wanted to help his friend. It also doesn’t help that his buddy Sal, excellently designed by John Cazale, who also appears in the first two Godfather films with Pacino (as brother Fredo) is quite unstable. One wrong remark or move from the hostages, and he could go crazy and kill someone. This creates a constant tension during the events in the bank. Apart from, of course, the tension caused by the police and press, who have surrounded the building. Fortunately, the large audience, which is also present, provides Sonny with some support and reassurance. He has become a national hero, because of the media event in which the heist has turned, similar to Mickey and Mallory in ‘Natural Born Killers’. Although Sonny is of course a much more positive role model than those two unhinged and extremely violent criminals. If you have to break the law anyway, do it like Sonny.