AL PACINO AND THE TRANNY....GOOD MOVIE THOUGH

This movie is so goddamn tense, I love it.

The first half is pretty decent, but the second half is a massive let down and drags terribly. Didn't find the behaviour of the hostages believable in the slightest either.

Great characterization all around, but most notable as one of Pacino's absolute best roles. It does a good job of conveying the anti-establishment vibe of the early 70's by demonstrating Sonny as a sort of anti-hero. His charisma with the gathering crowd, the camaraderie he develops with the bank employees, and the knowing way he handles the police all make him a multi-dimensional character who's one of the most memorable of the 70's.

A classic 70's "crime" film, though not as much a crime film as a character piece about a crime. Lots going on in this one: politics, sexuality, the media, psychology all interwoven with fantastic performances from Pacino, Cazele and the supporting cast as well. A great example of Lumet at the peak of his powers.

An exemplary New York street movie, rich in incident of the Oh-God-what-next variety. Also an exemplary actors' movie, with Pacino's and Durning's across-the-street negotiations especially giving the thing a kind of dog-fight snarl and yap. It is an audience movie as well, however.

Though the genre is mentioned as "Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Crime", the first half of the movie is very funny and the 2nd half is a bit more serious.

John Casale died too young, witnessed again here in this great movie about a bank robbery gone wrong, and how the robbers manage to get the people's support in the aftermath as they're surrounded by police with no way to go. Has a bit of social critic as well.

One of the first films to throw me into cinema.