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DVD PICK

Movie: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Cast: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon

If you think Al Pacino was spectacular in the “Godfather” series and in “Scarface” , then his performance as Sonny Wortzik in “Dog Day Afternoon” will simply blow you away.

Unusual

Al Pacino’s performance as a married man with children, who holds up a Brooklyn bank so he can pay for his lover’s sex-change operation is incredibly realistic. The plot may sound routine but the movie as a whole is highly unconventional and the depth of the main characters is so deep that you will remember them long after you have switched off your TV.

The robbery was meant to be quick and easy but it turns out to be everything else. Within minutes the bank is surrounded by a battalion of police, detectives and FBI agents. A large crowd gathers outside the bank along with a media circus. You realise that firing a gunshot is a big deal as there are a lot of edge-of-the-seat scenes with pointed guns à la Tarantino.

The story moves along in a fast, break-neck speed laced with dark humour which at times will make you fall over. The late John Cazale’s performance as Sal is terrific even though he does not have much dialogue; his facial expressions are brilliant at times. Incidentally, he played the role of Fredo Corleone in the “Godfather”.

Bottomline: A must-watch for any movie-buff or a Al Pacino fan and I must add that some of the scenes with Sonny eclipses the Michael Corleone baptism scene though most of you may disagree with me.

G. RITESH, IV Year, CSE, R.M.D.E.C

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