Bank robber blues
Thursday, November 2, 2017
"Dog Day Afternoon" often plays as a comedy but ends as a tragedy, all the while ticking away as a fine psychological drama and mild thriller filled with fine performances and fascinating characters that were hallmarks of early 1970s cinema. The movie has a lot to say about the power of the media, sociocultural politics, LGBT awareness, and the deep state of mistrust and pessimism that pervaded our culture in the mid-1970s.
Here's a roundup of the major discussion points from our CineVerse meeting yesterday:
WHAT MAKES DOG DAY AFTERNOON STAND OUT FROM OTHER FILMS AND HOW WOULD IT HAVE BEEN BOLD AND DISTINCTIVE UPON ITS RELEASE IN 1975
- It tackles the subject of a gay relationship with honesty and matter-of-factness.
- There is no proper score written for the film, although it does feature a pop song by Elton John at the beginning.
- It employs an anti-authority theme that criticizes police brutality, the Watergate era, and the Vietnam war.
- It explores the power of the media and the nature of the 15 minutes of fame axiom.
- It has a very authentic feel, thanks to it being based on true story; consider that it’s shot on location in New York, uses natural lighting, and has a spontaneous, improvisational feel to it
- He often seems to be in total control, then doesn’t have the slightest idea what to do next.
- He’s the hero and the anti-hero of the film: you root for him, but he’s a criminal breaking the law.
- He’s married with children yet is also married to a man.
- He has a gay male partner and a straight male bank robber partner.
- His greatest flaw is his compassion: he’s constantly trying to make things right for others, but things fail miserably when he does so.
- He’s cheered on by the crowd for essentially breaking the law, yet rejected by many in that same crowd for being gay, which is not illegal.
- Both films take place in New York on one very hot summer day.
- Both pictures end violently and tragically.
- Both films leave us with no easy answers or straightforward morals to the story.
- It doesn’t pander or resort to overplayed clichés or stereotypes. Ask yourself: did you suspect Sonny of being gay before it is revealed?
- It shows the Sonny-Leon relationship objectively, fairly, treating it impartially; it’s given equal time compared to Sonny’s relationship with his wife.
- It gives somewhat negative portrayals of Sonny’s mother and female wife. They seem to be shrill, unattractive, inattentive listeners and out of touch with his needs; some theorize that these qualities prompt Sonny to come out of the closet and prefer a gay relationship.
- Yet, some of the women hostages are shown as strong and brave.
- John Q
- Inside Man
- Quick Change
- The Town
- Rabid Dogs
- Hell or Highwater
- 12 Angry Men
- Long Day’s Journey into Night
- The Pawnbroker
- Fail Safe
- Serpico
- Murder on the Orient Express
- Network
- The Verdict
- Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead