Have to watch it once a year and sink into the glorious, tumultuous 70s. One of my all time favorite films, it's just about perfect. I'm always left with goosebumps when it's over and always feel a little enlightened when I check back into reality. Required viewing if you're young and just getting into the 70s classics.

Making the obvious-and-in-no-way-ballsy choice to follow up Network with Dog Day Afternoon was honestly one of the better cinematic experiences I've had this year. Sydney Lumet seemed to be perfectly attuned to the angst of the 70's, and the two films presciently deal with the influence of media and the new sexual politics of the age.

I had actually forgotten how funny this film is, and that Al Pacino was such a sexy son of a bitch. His hair is seriously amazing in this movie.

Oh my god....this film is just a masterpiece.
If you like Al Pacino and haven't seen this than I suggest you forget all your other things to watch and place this at the very top.
I have seen this plenty of times and it still shines without wearing thin.
A fantastic cast along side Al but he does steal the show.

Social commentary, when done badly, dates a film in such a manner to make it irrelevant preaching to a specific time. When done well, it gives the film historical context, and uses that context to raise universal and timeless questions about humanity.

This is the latter. Whether you know anything about 1972 America or not, I defy you to not feel a sense of rebellion burning in you when Sonny first steps out of the bank to talk to the police.. and the crowd starts cheering.

A story so bizarre it has to be true! Man I can't believe I have never watched that before now. I had absolutely no idea what this was about before today, only that it involved a bank robbery. When the shit hits the fan it really took me by surprise and had to do a double take. I loved how there was a relationship formed between Sonny and the bank tellers and the ending was one of the most tense I have ever seen. I'm glad I went into this not knowing anything, it made for one hell of a movie experience!

Brilliant.

Sidney Lumet creates such a vivid sense of being on the location, you almost feel that you are right in front of the First Brooklyn Saving Bank, or you are inside the bank with Sonny, watching him running from the front door to the back. It is really interesting to see Lumet doesn't reveal the fact that Sonny is bisexual until the middle of the film (maybe this is how the real event unfolded?). And the way he weaves civil right movements, gay movements and racial politics is really illuminating.

Hey look at me I watched this in the afternoon

This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Dog Day Afternoon is an intense and somewhat strange film — strange in that although its plot is quite straightforward, it’s not really driven by its plot so much as by its characters. And the characters are full of quirks and oddities and feel all the more real for it. There’s even some dark humor here and there which manages to avoid lessening the tension while still providing a laugh. It’s one of the best performances out of Pacino that I’ve seen, and it’s a great film overall. Read full review.

A thrilling slice of American angst in film form, with powerhouse performances from Pacino and Sarandon. A masterpiece of the genre.

I really really wanted to love this film as I know it's held in such high regard. Alas I could only like it.

The first and last 30 minutes are great, with comedy and drama aplenty respectively. Unfortunately the middle section sags and left me as frustrated and dare I say it, bored as the hostages.

Pacino, it goes without saying, is fantastic throughout and carries the film, but not enough to make up for the lack of story development, even if it's a true one.