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Who out there hasn't stood in line at the bank, looked around at the layout and the guards and the security cameras, and wondered: How could I rob this place and get away with it? I bet some of you have even figured out what kind of masks your crew would wear. It's a fun game to play and maybe that's why we all love a good heist flick. They give us the vicarious thrill of taking part in a masterplan for a few hours and be part of the gang while wondering how exactly they're going to pull it off. 

Spike Lee's "Inside Man" ranks among the most enjoyable modern capers and one of his 8 best movies overall. Released in 2006, Lee assembled a superb cast including Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and a host of great character actors for a twisty...

Spike Lee is reflecting on the impact that Jim Jarmusch’s “Stranger Than Paradise” had on his own film career. Lee said during the Criterion Channel’s “Adventures in Moviegoing” that he admired fellow auteur Jarmusch while the duo were both at the Tisch grad school for film.

When asked by host Sheril Antonio, the New York University Tisch School of the Arts’ Senior Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives, which directors most influenced his filmmaking while he was in school there, Lee said, “The first has got to be Jim Jarmusch. He was two years ahead of me [in grad school]. I worked in the equipment room, so I checked out the equipment. I mean, Jim’s hair was white even back then! So when ‘Stranger Than Paradise’ hit [in 1984], that was like a revelation to everybody. He still is our hero.”

It was only two years later when Lee had his own directorial...

Basada en el exorcismo de Emma Schmidt. © Inopia Films

Inopia Films ha anunciado la fecha de estreno en nuestro país del film de terror exorcista The Ritual, dirigido por David Midell (El asesinato de Kenneth Chamberlain).

En The Ritual, inspirada en el célebre caso real del exorcismo de Emma Schmidt –considerado uno de los más documentados del siglo Xx–, cuando una joven es poseída por una entidad demoníaca implacable, dos sacerdotes de mundos opuestos deberán unir sus fuerzas: uno es un veterano exorcista (Pacino) atormentado por su propio fracaso en un caso anterior; el otro es un sacerdote joven (Stevens) que se cuestiona su fe. Juntos se adentrarán en un ritual que pondrá a prueba sus creencias, su cordura y sus vidas.

La película, basada está protagonizada por Al Pacino, Dan Stevens y Ashley Green (saga Crepúsculo).

En una entrevista para Our Sunday Visitor, Midell describió la película como una...

Even after 36 years, The Simpsons is somehow still revealing new information about beloved characters we’ve known for decades. Like how we all just found out about Superintendent Chalmers’ seemingly insatiable libido. Well, this week’s episode uncovered more details of Moe Szyslak’s backstory, specifically, it shed some new light on his increasingly confusing genealogical history.

In “Abe League of Their Moe,” Moe is able to lure a wildly talented Macedonian baseball player to sign up to play for the Springfield Isotopes, beating out rival pitches from celebrities such as New York Mets fan Chris Rock and Danny Trejo, who’s working on behalf of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

How does this happen? Because Moe speaks Macedonian. The bartender reveals that he learned the language from his grandmother. This was back when he was an infant wearing a bread bag for a diaper, and she would accuse him of...

“Drop Dead City” falls into a category of documentary I think of as wonkish but gripping. Produced and directed by Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn, the film is about the financial cataclysm that hit New York City in 1975, when the powers that be figured out that the city was $6 billion in debt. There was no money to pay anyone: firefighters, cops, teachers, sanitation workers. The city walked right up to the edge of bankruptcy. (That’s not an overstatement.) Had New York City been anything but New York City — had it been a business, a family, or even another city — it likely would have declared bankruptcy. But after a prolonged logistical-ideological war about what to do, the city was deemed too big to fail.

The film’s title refers to the infamous New York Daily News headline that ran on Oct. 30, 1975 (“Ford to City: Drop Dead”). President Gerald R. Ford never actually said those words,...

Al Pacino is the Oscar-winning actor who has starred in dozens of classics throughout his nearly 50 year career, from his star-making breakthrough in "The Godfather" (1972) to his late-career triumph in "The Irishman" (2019). Tour through our photo gallery of Pacino's 25 greatest films, ranked worst to best.

Though an acting legend, it took Pacino 20 years and eight nominations to finally cash in his Oscar I.O.U. for "Scent of a Woman". Prior to that he competed for "The Godfather", "Serpico", "The Godfather, Part II", "Dog Day Afternoon", "... And Justice for All", "Dick Tracy" and "Glengarry Glen Ross", but he didn't win any of those bids.

Surprisingly, his 1992 noms for "Scent of a Woman" and "Glengarry Glen Ross" were followed by a long Academy drought, despite additional critically acclaimed performances in "Heat" (1995), "Donnie Brasco" (1997), "The Insider" (1999) and "Insomnia" (2002). During that time, he became a TV favorite with Emmy-winning turns in "Angels in America...

Films based on, adapted from, or loosely inspired by real-life events have been commonplace since the beginning of cinema, and they remain a highly popular proposition to this day. This makes perfect sense, because not only does ripping from historical record allow filmmakers to bypass the old Twain-ian dictum about truth being fundamentally stranger than fiction, but there's just an extra oomph of fascination to watching events unfold in a movie while knowing they bear at least some small measure of resemblance to things that actually happened.

The number of great films based on true stories is, frankly, too great to even count. You could honestly make a sizable list of the best such movies for every year since 1925, but here, we've tried to come up with a roster of exemplary masterpieces that showcase the very best of what fact-based cinema can be. Heavy fictionalization, historical liberties, and artistic license may apply,...

Are you ready to get groovy, baby? Cause Netflix is about to spin the clock back to 1975 for a month-long screening series held at its Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles this upcoming May. Titled “1975: Fifty Is the New Hollywood,” this event aims to celebrate the 50th anniversary of what many consider the year that changed cinema forever, with films like Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws,” Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein,” and Francis Ford Coppola‘s Oscar-winning “The Godfather Part II” all being released within the same 12-month span.

1975 marks the highpoint of the New Hollywood era, with gifted established filmmakers like Robert Altman, Akira Kurosawa, John Cassavetes, and Stanley Kubrick all going out on a limb to make their masterworks and newcomers like Spielberg, Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and Brian De Palma breaking through in ways that would forever alter the business and creative spirit of filmmaking. International cinema also introduced the world to the unconventional,...

With a career now easily over five decades, Al Pacino has given us some of the most iconic roles on the silver screen. If you look at his run in the ‘70s – The Godfather movies, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, …And Justice For All – you’re looking at some iconic performances. But for Pacino, it’s never been all about dramas like those. Yes, he fell into some self-parody later on, but the guy could chew a scene like a pack of gum. And it’s those sorts of performances that Pacino considers his most fun.

Appearing at the American Cinematheque last month for a special 50th anniversary screening of Dog Day Afternoon, Al Pacino fielded questions from attendees, one of whom wanted to know what his most fun roles were. The number one choice for Pacino was Dick Tracy, in which he played colorful crime boss Big Boy Caprice, which...

The 1970s were an era of cinematic experimentation, cultural upheaval, and creative risks that paid off in ways that still resonate today. Fifty years later, the films of 1975 remain some of the most influential, shocking, and genre-defining works ever put on screen. From chilling thrillers to absurd comedies and thought-provoking dramas, these ten movies aren’t just relics of a bygone era; they’re timeless classics that continue to captivate new generations of viewers.

With 2025 marking their golden anniversaries, these films deserve a fresh look at how they’ve shaped cinema and pop culture. Whether introducing unforgettable characters, pioneering visual storytelling techniques, or influencing entire genres, each of these movies has left a lasting mark. Some may feel eerily relevant to today’s world, while others offer a glorious escape into bizarre, unsettling, or laugh-out-loud cinematic brilliance. Either way, their legacy is undeniable.

Picnic at Hanging Rock Got Audiences Lost...

Anna Wintour announced today that the fourth annual Vogue World will take place in Hollywood on October 26 at the Paramount Pictures Studio Lot. Celebrating the “conversation between film and fashion,” 100% of the ticket proceeds will go to the Entertainment Community fund, with a focus on supporting costuming professionals impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires.

“Vogue World: Hollywood will be a one-night-only show with a huge cast of models and actors, dancers, musicians and surprises, and it will set great film costumes next to brilliant fashion collections,” said Wintour. “By mixing fashion with the arts and culture in the center of a city, and by raising funds for a cause, Vogue World has become a runway show-as-rallying cry, a way to fix the attention of a huge global audience, to bring awareness, and sound an unmistakable note of positivity, creativity, and hope.”

This year’s event will feature contributions from costume...

Between 1971 and 1983, a new Al Pacino performance was an event ... most of the time. No one was excited to see Pacino follow up the supercharged "Cruising" by playing a stressed-out papa in Arthur Hiller's abominable 1982 family dramedy "Author! Author!" Other than that, there was always the promise of greatness with Pacino, whether presented in the form of "Panic in Needle Park" or "Scarface." And when your peak is "Dog Day Afternoon" and/or "The Godfather Part II," that's pure, transcendent craft.

There was, however, a growing sense with Pacino around the time he did the controversial "Scarface" that the actor was eschewing nuance and depth for scenery-devouring showmanship. His Tony Montana was the culmination of a tendency towards growling and gesticulating (which began in films like "...And Justice for All" and "Cruising"), topped off with a thick Cuban accent. It's a towering performance, but it's also one that proved difficult for him to shed.

The 1970s is arguably the greatest decade in cinema history, at least in terms of American cinema. Aside from the New Hollywood movement giving rise to many of the most legendary filmmakers audiences know today, there was also an abundance of great movies coming out in various genres. In most cases, there are up-and-coming actors and directors working together to make a great film. Sometimes, Classical Hollywood era directors would make a film here and there that audiences really enjoy but then go on to forget. It's not as though these films aren't great; it's just that there were so many iconic films coming out during the decade, that a few gems would get left behind in peoples' memories. More often than not, these films would team up a rising star with a respected director and the result would be pure gold. However, because the big new names weren't attached,...

I’m old enough to remember when Jacques Rivette films were the domain of dark-web networks and substandard DVD rips, a conspiratorial network worthy of his cinema. It’s still a little strange seeing that April will feature a 10-film, one-short Criterion Channel program that combines of his canonized masterpieces with decidedly lesser-seens––plus Va Savoir, which I really hope is the recently unearthed four-hour cut for which there’s no substitute. Penélope Cruz is also subject of a retrospective in April, which––more than making me pine for a Rivette collab that never was––will include both Abre Los Ojos and Vanilla Sky, some Almodóvar, and another in the Channel’s ongoing let’s-add-a-Woody-Allen-movie campaign, Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

For themed series, J. Hoberman has curated a series on the dangers of ’60s and ’70s New York that runs from Michael Roemer’s recently restored The Plot Against Harry and...

Last Updated on March 17, 2025

Martin Scorsese is the quintessential New York filmmaker. Sure, some of his greatest films are set in New York, but that asthma kept him inside of a Little Italy apartment to do nothing but study cinema says a lot about how embedded the city is in his blood and his own movies. Now, Scorsese has listed more than 30 of the most essential New York films – and yes, he was modest enough to not list Mean Streets and Taxi Driver and Goodfellas and…

Check out Martin Scorsese’s list of 30+ greatest New York movies below:

Daybreak Express

The Naked City and Kiss of Death

Fourteen Hours

Cry of the City

A Double Life and The Marrying Kind

It Should Happen to You

On the Waterfront

The Wrong Man

Sweet Smell of Success

Shadows

Midnight Cowboy and Marathon Man

The French Connection

Bye Bye Braverman

Prince of the City...

Exclusive: Black Label Media has taken rights to Patrick Hoffman’s debut crime novel The White Van to develop as a feature for filmmaker Grant Singer.

Singer and author Hoffman will team to adapt the novel together.

The project reunites Singer with Black Label Media on the heels of Reptile, his chart-topping Netflix feature debut starring Benicio Del Toro, which the company also produced. That movie premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.

The White Van is a kinetic heist thriller following a troubled young woman who is lured into a criminal scheme that leaves her wanted for bank robbery and hunted by a corrupt cop who doesn’t want justice – but wants the money for himself. Evoking crime novelists like Dennis Lehane and gritty seventies films like Dog Day Afternoon, the line between good and evil blurs as criminals, cops, and hustlers collide in the unforgiving underbelly of San Francisco.

New York icon Martin Scorsese is revealing his go-to films set in the Big Apple.

The auteur curated the screening series “Living, Breathing New York” for the Roxy Cinema, which features screenings of four of his favorite NYC movies out of a full list of Scorsese’s 32 favorite New York movies he’s created and which IndieWire is proud to share below.

“Living, Breathing New York” is curated by Scorsese in celebration of the new release of Olmo Schnabel’s NYC-set thriller, “Pet Shop Days,” which Scorsese executive produced. The film premieres March 15 at the Roxy Cinema in New York, and stars Dario Yazbek Bernal and Jack Irv as two lovers whose whirlwind romance sends them down a rabbit hole of drugs and depravity in Manhattan’s underworld. Willem Dafoe (who starred in Olmo Schnabel‘s father Julian Schnabel’s Vincent Van Gogh biopic “At Eternity’s Gate”), Emmanuelle Seigner, Peter Sarsgaard,...

Oscar-winner Al Pacino (Scent of a Woman) has been nominated a total of nine times for Academy Awards over the course of his illustrious career. However, the beloved thespian recently revealed that he had the "most fun" acting in Dick Tracy, while his "favorite" role was playing the foul-mouthed Tony Montana in Scarface (1983) — despite the accolades he has garnered for his award-winning performances over the years. The Hollywood heavyweight made his selections while attending a special 50th anniversary screening of his must-see film, Dog Day Afternoon (1975) in Santa Monica, California. Pacino said during the film's Q&a at the American Cinematheque Aero Theatre afterward:

"Straight out, I just say nothing touches Scarface. And really the reason I feel that way is, I remember passing a movie house in Los Angeles, the Tiffany (West Hollywood) — it’s not there anymore — where they played all the old films, and they played Scarface...

Al Pacino spent time with some old friends, attending a 50th anniversary screening of “Dog Day Afternoon” at the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre — those friends being the other collaborators he misses from making the classic bank-robbery-gone-wrong drama a half-century ago.

The avuncular Pacino also made a lot of new friends at the Aero, with Tuesday’s capacity crowd reveling not just in his tales of making “Dog Day Afternoon” but assorted takes on other aspects of his career.

“Let’s just say it’s always a 50-year anniversary, you know,” Pacino said with a chuckle. “I mean, I did ‘The Godfather’ — it was 50 years; people celebrated — and I did ‘The Godfather Part II,’ which you got another, but I’m due on this one.”

The 84-year-old acting giant was pinned down on what he now considers the favorite role of his career (spoiler: it’s not one of the...

Crime cinema is one of the most important genres in the history of cinema, as it was the low-budget gangster and police thrillers of the 1930s that first helped define the “Golden Age of Hollywood.” Crime films began to grow grittier as the decades passed; although international cinema introduced the influence of the French New Wave in the 1960s, the dawn of the “New Hollywood” movement in America amidst the 1970s resulted in much darker, grittier suspense films such as The French Connection, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Godfather.

On Tuesday March 4 2025, Oxygen broadcasts Forensic Files!

Dog Day Afternoon Season 12 Episode 18 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Forensic Files,” titled “Dog Day Afternoon,” promises to be a gripping exploration of how man’s best friend can play a crucial role in solving a crime. This episode will air on Oxygen and is sure to capture the attention of true crime enthusiasts and dog lovers alike.

In this episode, a canine behaviorist steps into the spotlight as the investigation unfolds. The family dogs are the only witnesses to the tragic murder of their owner. With their unique skills, the behaviorist aims to interpret the dogs’ actions and reactions, hoping to uncover vital clues that could lead to the murderer. This innovative approach highlights the bond between humans and their pets, showing how animals can sometimes offer insights that humans might overlook.

Viewers can expect a blend of suspense and emotion as the story develops.

There’s a reason the worst “Oscar Bait” exists, and it’s not because Felix Unger’s roommate loves fishing. Over the course of nearly 100 years the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has proven that they, like all specific audiences, have a particular sense of taste. The movies that win the Academy Award for Best Picture tend to be serious dramas, often historical pictures and biopics, with important social messages. (Bonus points if it’s about World War II.)

There have always been exceptions, and recent years have trended more surprising, but some genres have a harder time breaking into the Best Picture category than others. Horror movies have historically had a hard time of it, since the genre — on which the industry has often financially relied — has frequently been disregarded by critics and the public at large as “low art.” This has always been a lie and great...

Al Pacino has given audiences some of the best performances in crime cinema history. From the calculated Michael Corleone in The Godfather to the ruthless Tony Montana in Scarface, Pacino has long been a master of the genre. But Serpico is classic Pacino with a twist, a crime drama that sees him as a frustrated NYPD cop determined to expose corruption within the force.

Based on a true story, Serpico is Pacino’s first portrayal as a real person – something he took rather seriously. And, while he may not be the typical Pacino fans have since come to know and love, he still commands every scene with the same intensity. A performance that earned him several awards and nominations, Serpico remains one of Pacino’s most underrated and best performances to date.

What Is Serpico About? Image via Paramount

Serpico follows Frank Serpico, an NYPD officer rushed to hospital after...

The upcoming episode of “Forensic Files,” titled “Dog Day Afternoon,” promises to be a captivating installment in Season 12. Set to air on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 10:30 Pm on Oxygen, this episode takes a unique approach to solving a murder case. With the focus on the family dogs, viewers can expect an intriguing blend of forensic science and canine insight.

In this episode, a canine behaviorist steps into the spotlight, working closely with the family’s dogs, who are the only witnesses to the crime. The dogs may not speak, but their behavior and reactions can provide crucial clues. This unconventional method of investigation highlights the special bond between humans and their pets, showcasing how animals can play a vital role in solving crimes.

As the story unfolds, the tension builds around the mystery of the owner’s murder. The canine behaviorist’s observations and interactions with the dogs are sure...

Brian De Palma’s Scarfacestands as one of the most iconic crime films in cinematic history. What many don’t realize, however, is that it’s actually a remake of a 1932 classic by Howard Hawks. This remake, though controversial at the time of its release, has since become a cult classic, influencing cinema and other entertainment since its 1983 release.

Though most audiences are familiar with De Palma’s Scarface as a stand-alone classic, few are aware of the original that paved the way for this iconic reimagining. Hawks’ version, a product of pre-Code Hollywood, set the stage for the evolution of crime cinema. While the two films share the same title and central themes, their setting, characters and treatment of violence stand as almost two separate pieces of work. The influence of both films has since echoed across generations, with each version offering its own unique perspective on the American Dream.

From no network wanting to run it, to now being one of the most highly acclaimed shows out there, The Sopranos truly revolutionised television. Its popularity knew no bounds, and James Gandolfini’s portrayal of Tony Soprano became a household name. He was a huge part of the show that perfectly brought forth psychological elements with a mix of crime drama.

Michael Imperioli and James Gandolfini as Christopher Moltisanti and Tony Soprano in The Sopranos | Credits: HBO

While the show deeply captivated audiences with its storytelling, Michael Imperioli’s comments about it might change something for the fans. For him, The Sopranos was much more than just a crime drama.

Michael Imperioli had some strong words for The Sopranos

The Sopranos had an interesting beginning. From being rejected by every major network to becoming one of the greatest shows of all time, it has surely come a long way. While...

The Oscar-winning Al Pacino classic Dog Day Afternoon is not only one of the actor's best films in his legendary filmography, but among his most important. In fact, the Library of Congress stated the film was "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" in 2009, leading it to being reserved in the National Film Registry. The acclaimed film is available to rent or purchase digitally on Prime Video, but it seems the streamer takes preserving media a lot less seriously. A major snafu by the platform has been noticed by eagle-eyed subscribers, and Prime Video has been promptly hit with backlash.

As noted by a user on Bluesky, the listing for Dog Day Afternoon on Prime Video included a brief summary of the film's plot that was AI-generated. How could they tell? Well, it's pretty obvious because whoever copied over the plot description forgot to actually read it. Not only does it include an incredibly generic initial logline,...

If we’re holding up the all-time best bank robbery movies, a special place is reserved for classics like Bonnie and Clyde, Dog Day Afternoon, Heat, and a handful more. But when it comes to the most underrated recent cinematic bank heists, Christian Gudegast’s 2018 movie Den of Thieves ranks right up there with the most entertaining and hyper-violent examples like The Town, Point Break, Hell or High Water, and the like. Now that Gudegast recently unloaded Den of Thieves 2: Pantera on the masses this January, it’s high time to reflect on the making of the original.

While a tad long and baldly inspired by Michael Mann’s Heat, Den of Thieves was released in January 2018 to commercial success and middling critical acclaim. For those in the dark, the story concerns a unit of former Marines turned bank robbers called The Outlaws led by Ray Merrimen (Pablo Schreiber...

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.

Roxy Cinema

One of our era’s great musicians, Lex Walton, introduces I-Be Area on Friday; Babe: Pig in the City screens for free on Sunday.

Film at Lincoln Center

A career-spanning Frederick Wiseman retrospective begins.

IFC Center

A new 4K restoration of Picnic at Hanging Rock begins a run; Eraserhead and Mulholland Dr. screen; The Actor, Misery, House, and Jennifer’s Body show late.

Museum of the Moving Image

Snubbed Forever brings 35mm prints of Dog Day Afternoon, Batman Returns, and Barton Fink.

Museum of Modern Art

A Jerry Schatzberg retrospective begins.

Film Forum

Groundhog Day screens on Groundhog Day.

Anthology Film Archives

Wandering Women features films by Barbara Loden, Sembène, Chantal Akerman, Masao Adachi and more.

Metrograph

Mouchette, The Grandmaster, Crouching Tiger, Children of Paradise, Uncut Gems, and (if time and money mean nothing to you) Emilia Pérez...

Crime cinema is one of the most important subgenres in the film industry, as it has been steadily evolving for well over a century. Although cinema first began to lionize the criminal lifestyle thanks to a series of gangsters films during the “Golden Age of Hollywood,” the perspective on crime began to evolve during a transcendent period in the 1970s in which films like The Godfather, Taxi Driver, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon were hailed as being some of the greatest of all-time.

Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón has made Oscar history. The titular Emilia Pérez star was just nominated for Best Actress, making her the first openly transgender performer ever nominated in the category. She stars in the musical as a Mexican drug lord who undergoes a gender transition but can’t fully escape her past.

This nomination is historic, but it didn’t come as a surprise. Beginning at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, Gascón and costars Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz were jointly named Best Actress. Emilia Pérez was then acquired by Netflix, which released it in theaters on Nov. 1 and on its streaming platform on Nov. 13.

Since then, the film has been enthusiastically embraced by awards groups. It received 10 Golden Globe nominations, the most ever for a comedy or musical, including one for Gascón. It went on to win four of those awards, including the top prize for best film.

What do Kim Novak, Jim Carrey, John Turturro, and the late Donald Sutherland all have in common? Well, aside from being acclaimed actors, these stars have never (we repeat: never) been nominated for an Academy Award. And that crime is now being celebrated by the annual anti-awards season festival, hosted by the Museum of the Moving Image.

The beloved museum announced its third iteration of the popular “Snubbed” screening series, which reexamines films that have been overlooked by the Academy. The 2025 theme is centered on actors and titled “Snubbed Forever: Great Actors, No Nominations.” The program will run February 1 through March 9, and feature 21 films starring actors who have never been nominated for an Oscar.

Highlights include Kim Novak in the enduring “Vertigo,” John Turturro and John Goodman in “Barton Fink,” Rita Hayworth in “The Lady from Shanghai,” Jim Carrey in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and Danny DeVito in “Batman Returns.

2006 was a good year for Denzel Washington on the big screen, because he starred in two high-grossing, high-quality thrillers: "Deja Vu" and "Inside Man." Just as "Deja Vu" was "Vertigo" as a time-traveling action movie, "Inside Man" was director Spike Lee's 21st century update on Sidney Lumet's "Dog Day Afternoon."

Written by Richard Gerwitz, "Inside Man" follows a hostage situation during a robbery at a Manhattan bank. Washington plays NYPD hostage negotiator Detective Keith Frazier, squaring off against the robbers' leader, Dalton Russell (Clive Owen). The story didn't begin with Lee (Ron Howard was in talks to direct "Inside Man" first), but he made it his own. "Inside Man" is definitely more of a crowd pleaser than something like "Do The Right Thing," as seen by it also being Lee's highest-grossing film to date, but it's absolutely a Spike Lee joint.

Lee's range as a director comes in...

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Few filmmakers had a better 1970s than Sidney Lumet. While he was more prolific than most of the decade's top directors, knocking out 11 movies over a 10-year span, and did find time to helm one of the worst musicals in motion picture history (a badly bungled adaptation of "The Wiz"), when Lumet got ahold of the right material, he made classics like "Serpico," "Dog Day Afternoon," and "Network."

There isn't a more electric movie in Lumet's oeuvre than "Dog Day Afternoon." Based on a true story, the 1975 critical and commercial hit centers on a bank robbery in Brooklyn carried out by Sonny Wortzik, an amateur crook desperate to pay for his lover's gender-affirming surgery. When the heist quickly goes south, Sonny and his associates find themselves stuck holding hostages while cops swarm the building. The defiant Sonny scrambles to negotiate...

One can learn a semester's worth of film school education by watching the films of Sidney Lumet. A prolific, steady studio hand for decades, Lumet was a refreshingly unshowy filmmaker who relied on gripping scripts and stellar performances. More so than even the most virtuosic auteurs, Lumet, who wrote the definitive book on filmmaking, Making Movies, knew how to elevate films through simple but potent formalist tricks. Within his deep filmography, Lumet directed a handful of overlooked gems buried under stone-cold classics like 12 Angry Men and Dog Day Afternoon, including Q & A, a police procedural and crime saga about systemic corruption and the futility of justice. Considering the topical nature of its themes in 2025, the film is more built to be appreciated today than in 1990.

Carol Kane received her first awards nomination 50 years ago next year. It was a big one, too; after just five years in film, working with directors of the caliber of Mike Nichols and Hal Ashby, Kane was feted by the Academy for her starring role in Joan Micklin Silver’s period drama Hester Street, a film she made in 1975 alongside Sidney Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon. Primetime Emmy awards followed in the early ’80s, for James L. Brooks’ hit show Taxi, in which she played the wife of Andy Kaufman’s character Latka Gravas.

Awards-wise, Kane has simmered throughout her career while never quite boiling over. Instead, she focused on the work—as a young actress, she caught the tail end of the New Hollywood of the ’60s, and then quite effortlessly segued into the commercial studio mainstream of the ’80s, making Scrooged in 1988 with Bill Murray. In the ’90s,...

What Did Al Pacino Say About Turning Down Han Solo Role & Giving Harrison Ford A Career? (Photo Credit – YouTube/Facebook)

Hold up, Al Pacino turned down Han Solo?! Yes, he did. Having delivered some of Hollywood’s most iconic performances in The Godfather, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon, he was offered the chance to become a galactic legend. But despite the big paycheck, Pacino passed on Star Wars in 1977.

At an event in New York, Pacino revealed the shocking story: “They gave me a script called Star Wars. They offered me so much money. I don’t understand it. I read it. So I said I couldn’t do it.” It’s as if the universe had conspired to create one of the most mind-boggling “What Ifs” in Hollywood lore. Instead of Pacino in the iconic role, we got Harrison Ford.

Ever the modest legend, Pacino quipped, “I gave Harrison Ford a career.

Nailing the gritty procedural drama is something of an art, and there was perhaps no director ever more qualified than Sidney Lumet, the director of such films as 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Verdict. With such an impressive filmography, it's both an inevitability and a shame that one of the legendary director's most biting films is often sidelined. Based on Robert Daley's novel Tainted Evidence, Lumet's Night Falls on Manhattan is the story of a rookie assistant district attorney who unwittingly uncovers a web of police corruption, including his father's potential complicity, while navigating the moral dilemmas of justice and loyalty. Like the bulk of his films, Night Falls on Manhattan reflects Lumet’s career-spanning interest in social injustice in a world where the line between right and wrong is blurred.

I’ve always avoided New Year’s resolutions, but this week I happened to recall one that was brief but resolute: I resolved to quit Hollywood.

And I did. Almost.

That decision seems relevant today for reasons that require a bit of history. Consider January 1975, 50 years ago: It was a Hollywood moment that was the opposite of the present, both in numbers and nuance. It was a great time to be around – and not to be.

The audience was expanding and was determined to get scared: Jaws was a smash. But millions also were welcoming the weirdities of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. TV fans were puzzled over something new called SNL, and music fans continued to discover Elton John (still are).

As box office kept growing, opportunity was abundant. Words like “downsizing” or “contracting” were still unknown.

There were hints of quantum change, but just hints: The Hollywood...

Actor John Cazale is notable not just for his talents and intensity as a performer, but also for having one of the most impressive filmographies for any actor with a career as short as his. Cazale, a prolific theater veteran, famously only appeared in five feature films before his untimely death of lung cancer in 1978 at the age of 42. Those five films, however, are often considered some of the best and most significant films of the 1970s, which is saying something.

Cazale appeared in three Francis Ford Coppola movies, as well as Sidney Lumet's stirring bank robber drama "Dog Day Afternoon" and Michael Cimino's "The Deer Hunter." Cazale played supporting roles in all of them. Each one of them was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Three of them won.

Cazale's film career, of course, was only a small piece of his acting experience. Notoriously guarded and shy,...

There are few actors more recognizable and respected in Hollywood than Al Pacino, who has been a staple of the big screen since the 1970s. Pacino first became a star in 1972 with the release of Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, a crime epic that is now widely regarded as one of the best movies of all time. Pacino would reprise his role as Michael Corleone for the acclaimed The Godfather Part II (1974) and a 1990 threequel, but he also branched beyond this franchise, playing memorable characters in a range of films.

In 1975, for example, Pacino starred in Dog Day Afternoon, and the following decades would see him star in projects like Dick Tracy (1990), Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), Heat (1995), and Once Upon A Time... in Hollywood (2019). One of Pacino's most iconic roles, however, came in 1983 in the form of a collaboration with director Brian De Palma, with the pair ultimately making what...

One of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro's most iconic movies is getting a new streaming home soon. Pacino rose to fame portraying the youngest son of the Corleone family in The Godfather trilogy. His follow-up performances in Scarface and Dog Day Afternoon further cemented his status as a formidable actor. De Niro’s career formed along similar genre lines with gritty roles in mob films like Goodfellas, while winning Best Actor for his gripping portrayal of Jake Lamotta in Raging Bull. The two have thus defined the crime genre with unparalleled talent and their brooding on-screen presence in action-packed dramas.

Though the two legends have often worked separately, their collaborations have nonetheless brought about some significant films. Their time in The Godfather Part II, where De Niro plays a young Vito and father to Pacino's Michael, solidified both actors' reputations as masters of the crime and gangster genres,...

The iconic 1995 crime thriller Heat, directed by Michael Mann, is set to join Hulu’s streaming library.

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, audiences can experience this critically acclaimed masterpiece on Hulu. Known for its intense action sequences, character-driven storytelling, and powerhouse performances from Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, Heat has left an indelible mark on the crime genre. Heat is widely regarded as one of the most influential crime dramas in cinematic history. The film is best known for its riveting depiction of the cat-and-mouse game between Pacino’s relentless LAPD detective Vincent Hanna and De Niro’s methodical criminal mastermind Neil McCauley. Mann’s meticulous attention to detail brought an unprecedented level of realism to the film’s heist and shootout sequences, with the climactic downtown Los Angeles gunfight standing as one of the most iconic action scenes ever filmed.

Related Val Kilmer Starred Alongside the Same Actor in a Classic...

Steven Spielberg's horror hit from 49 years ago has left an enduring legacy that movies today have yet to rival. Jaws came out in June 1975 and immediately awed audiences. The movie follows a police chief who is determined to catch a great white shark after a series of shark attacks close to shore, leading to Jaws' iconic ending sequence. Spielberg's shark hunting movie combined hints of action and adventure with a thrilling horror that changed how people understand the success of movies, and the danger of sharks, to this day.

However, both the immediate and enduring popularity of Spielberg's Jaws remains an outlier in the horror genre. Beyond its reputation as one of the most iconic and best monster movies of all time, Jaws set numerous box office records and was met with praise from critics. Jaws is even responsible for popularizing the term "blockbuster" when referring to a successful film,...

There is something foundational about Carol Kane. She was part of the fabric of late 20th Century arts and entertainment, whether it be in films like “Dog Day Afternoon” and “The Princess Bride” or on television in her Emmy-winning performance on “Taxi” as wife to Andy Kaufman’s Latke. In transitioning into the 21st century, not only did her strengths become more amplified — her trademark quirkiness adding dynamism to movies such as “The Pacifier” and shows like “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” — but her range continues to become more pronounced. In the last decade alone she’s taken part in a western from Jacques Audiard (“The Sisters Brothers”), a zombie comedy from Jim Jarmusch (“The Dead Don’t Die”), and will soon be seen in Darren Aronofsky’s ’90s-set crime thriller “Caught Stealing” as a character she recently told IndieWire “only spoke Yiddish.”

The role garnering her the most attention nowadays, however,...

Spike Lee's "Inside Man" is a loving homage to New York City and Sidney Lumet's "Dog Day Afternoon," infused with post-9/11 anxieties, an eclectic cast, and unexpected twists. Sleek and exciting, this popcorn flick is about a game of wits between law enforcement officers and bank robbers as they try to get hostages out safely. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of Wall Street corruption and a bank owner with blood on his hands.

There's a palpable tension between Keith Frazier, who wants to make detective first grade after being falsely accused of stealing money from a drug bust, and the robber, Dalton Russell, who claims he will execute "the perfect bank robbery." Spike Lee offered both of these lead roles to Denzel Washington, who had been in several other of his films such as "Mo' Better Blues," "Malcolm X," and "He Got Game." As Spike Lee...

Terror will know no antidote when Venom sinks its fangs onto 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on March 25 via Blue Underground.

The 1981 killer snake thriller has been newly restored in 4K 16-bit from the 35mm internegative with Dolby Vision Hdr and a new Dolby Atmos audio mix.

Master of horror Tobe Hooper was the original director before leaving the production and being replaced by Piers Haggard (The Blood on Satan’s Claw). Robert Carrington (Wait Until Dark) wrote the script, based on Alan Scholefield‘s novel of the same name.

From producer Martin Bregman, the film stars Sterling Hayden, Klaus Kinski, Sarah Miles, Nicol Williamson, Cornelia Sharpe, Susan George, Lance Holcomb, and Oliver Reed.

Disc 1 – 4K Uhd:

Audio Commentary by Director Piers Haggard Audio Commentary by Film Historians Troy Howarth, Nathaniel Thompson and Eugenio Ercolani (new) Trailers

Disc 2 – Blu-ray:

Audio Commentary by Director Piers Haggard Audio Commentary by Film Historians Troy Howarth,...

Over 50 years ago, Sidney Lumet released "Serpico," a powerful indictment of NYPD police corruption that was based on a true story. Decades later, New York's "boys in blue" are still being consistently called out for corruption, but at the time of the film's release in 1973, "Serpico" felt like it might just cause a sea change in the way America — or at least Hollywood — saw its law enforcement systems. "Sidney Lumet's 'Serpico,' the first in what threatens to be an avalanche of movies about policemen, picks up the old cop film and brings it with lights flashing and sirens blaring into the middle of the Watergate era," Vincent Canby wrote in his original review for the New York Times.

"Serpico" may not have ended up changing the world, but the movie based on the book of the same name by Peter Maas was a box office and critical hit,...

Spike Lee argues that Denzel Washington should’ve won Best Actor for their 1992 biopic, and explains why exactly he lost. Washington was among the nominees when the Oscars for Best Actor were handed out in 1992, having given a powerful performance as Malcolm X in Lee’s unconventional portrait of the slain civil rights leader. But when Oscar night rolled around, Washington was left empty-handed. Instead, Al Pacino took the gold for his performance as a blind man in Scent of a Woman. The controversial decision continues to draw arguments even 30 years after the awards were officially handed out.

Debate rages on about Pacino’s controversial 1992 win over Washington, and Lee knows exactly where he falls in that argument, telling The Realest Podcast Ever that Washington’s loss was “egregious” while going on to explain how the Academy sometimes passes over worthy nominees to reward people they previously snubbed. Using a basketball metaphor,...

When 1977’s Star Wars came out, it forever changed the lives of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher. But what if the stars had aligned differently? What if Al Pacino, fresh off his legendary role in The Godfather, had accepted the role of Han Solo? Instead of Ford, it could have been the Academy Award-winning actor who would have starred in one of the most iconic roles in cinematic history. Pacino himself has shared the story of how he nearly took on Han Solo, and it’s just as fascinating as you’d expect.

Al Pacino’s Career Skyrockets After The Godfather

In the 1970s, Al Pacino was on a meteoric rise. His portrayal of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972) had made him a household name and an acting legend. But with fame came overwhelming pressure. As Pacino reflected in his memoir, Sonny Boy, the success of The Godfather followed him everywhere,...