VIFF 2005 Reviews

In the 1970s, Al Pacino starred in the movie "Dog Day Afternoon", which was based on the true story of a gay man who robbed a bank in order to fund his lover's sex change. You'd think a documentary on this subject would be mildly interesting. Well, it would be - if the director actually got to talk to the people involved. Much of the film is spent pursuing interviews with the now-released bank robber as he skirts around the edges of the camera frame demanding money to be featured in the film. Instead of paying for that crucial interview, the director interviews several of the bank employees who were there the day of the real-life hold-up and splices in news and talk show clips. It's too bad the main star of the story was as uncooperative as he was. Otherwise, this film may have been semi-decent.

Alan Woo