Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Directed by Sidney Lumet

Starred Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon, James Broderick ...

1975, United States, English

 

Another heist movie based on a true story happened in early seventies. The motive of robbing a bank was pretty different this time: a homosexual young man decides to rob a bank for his lover to help him to undergo a sex-change operation and he suddenly finds himself on national TV and becoming a social and political figure throughout the country.


This robbery movie is pretty unusual, and the one can change your perception of the genre sharply. It throws a critical glance at society's and TV networks` approach towards crimes and criminals, which is almost in a level that popularizes them for the sake of high ratings, while questions the taboos and debates over being victimized. 

While the earlier heist movies tried to remain in ethical borders by sending the robbers home with empty hands or jail in the final, they tried to neutralize the critics who say the audience is forced to associated with the thieves and glorify the criminals. Then this rule has begun to change and the criminal protagonists of the genre begun to end up with loot in success, but the new formula to humanize them was changing their target to somebody corrupted or bad guys, like robbing mafioso or casinos. More and more the heist movies genre began to loose all these concerns but we have seen so few heist with some moral issues. For a kind of good cause, if there is any justification possible. Dog Day Afternoon was one of them and maybe a milestone in the genre.  

A young and impressive Al Pacino is the one who carries the entire film almost all alone sometimes in dramatic, sometimes in a funny dose. For sure, it isn`t a movie for those are looking for an adrenaline packed heist & action movie, but a very interesting experience in the genre and surely considered as a classic.

Won many awards as well as, Best Original Screenplay Oscar, and 5 major Oscar nominations, such as Best Picture, Best Director (Sidney Lumet), Best Editing, Best Actor (Al Pacino) and Best Supporting Actor (Chris Sarandon). 

To see the whole blog, click here. 

 

 

If you look for;

a heist movie based on a true story
a heist movie with political arguments
a heist movie considered as classic
an award winner heist movie

then this is your movie.

***
If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Quick Change (1990)

Le Premier Cercle / Ultimate Heist (2009)

Stander (2003)

Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (1969)

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Thieves Like Us (1974) 
Bande à part / Band of Outsiders (1964)

If you liked this movie, IMDb believes you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Heat (1995)

***  

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery, Bank Robbers

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 3/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 3/5

Originality of the Story in General: 4/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 4/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Heat (1995)

Directed by Michael Mann
Starred Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, William Fichtner, Natalie Portman,  ...

1995, United States, English with some Spanish dialogues, 170 minute.

Considered as one of the best movies, as well as one of the best crime movies ever made, I haven't seen almost no heist movies listings didn't mention Heat. Often you can see this movie as number 1 in such listings, however not in mine, although I enjoyed Heat very much. 

The movie has received great reactions both from moviegoers and critics. Inspired on true events, many scenes you see in the movie indeed happened, however the real heist character was a lower profile thief. 

It is for sure a pleasure to watch two giant actors of our time, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, the movie offers many unforgettable moments. The first movie ever featured De Niro and Pacino acting together. The famous shootouts scenes, as well as legendary restaurant scene where Al Pacino meets Robert De Niro are only a few of them. Not only dramatically but also cinematic wise, the scene is a real treasure to savour. 

A great cast with Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd and a very young Natalie Portman completes this great team, in case if anything missed :P 

The movie received several nominations in different movie awards such as Saturn Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Young Star Awards, Chicago Film Critics Association Awards etc.

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a heist packed with action
a famous heist movie

a movie which bring Pacino and De Niro together

a very popular movie often listed as best crime or heist movie

then this is your movie.

***
If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Point Break (1991)
The Score (2001)
Inside Man (2006)  
The Town (2010)
Thieves Like Us (1974)

***

If you liked this movie, IMDb believes you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Inside Man (2006)
The Town (2010)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Ronin (1998)
Snatch (2000)
Reservoir Dogs (1992) 

***

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Warehouse Robbery, Armored Car Robbery, Bank Robbery, Bank Robbers, Character Study/Thieves
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 5/5

Actors' Performances: 5/5

Excitement Level: 4/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 1/5

Originality of the Story in General: 3/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 4/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

The Lookout (2007)

Directed by Scott Frank
Starred Joseph Gordon-Lewitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Isla Fisher, Bruce McGill,  ...

2007, United States, English.

This movie mainly focuses on how a member of a robbery team is got involved. This point of view, of course, is somehow different than the most of the heist movies we see. Slow in pace, the movie might loose some heist movie fans who look for action, in the beginning of the movie, but more you go, the better it gets.

I am not sure if everybody would appreciate this movie, but if you call yourself as a heist movie fan, then you might want to give a shot. Nothing big, but worth to see.

This is the first feature movie for director Scott Frank.

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a slow pace heist
a little different POV on a heist movie
a character study heist movie

then this is your movie.

***

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Le Premier Cercle / Inside Ring (2009)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Armored (2009)

If you liked this movie, imdb believes you might like also:
(available in the blog)

The Town (2010)
Stander (2009)

*** 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery, Bank Robbers
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 3/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 2/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 1/5

Originality of the Story in General: 2/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 2/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Public Enemies (2009)

Directed by Michael Mann

Starred Christian Bale, Johnny Depp, James Russo, Jason Clarke, Stephen Dorff, Channing Tatum, Billy Crudup, Chandler Williams, Marion Cotillard, Giovanni Ribisi, John Ortiz, Bill Camp, Stephen Graham, Stephen Lang, Matt Craven,  ...

2009, United States, English.

Here is the story of a real life bank robber's, John Dillinger's last few years' story. Dillinger is considered one of the most dangerous bank robbers in American history. At the same time, he was end of an era. After him, stealing has changed.

Not only, a very interesting milestone on bank robberies, Public Enemies is a first class real-life gangster movie with a large and classy cast. Signed by Michael Mann, the movie brings a closer look how Dillinger was hunted by Agent Pulvis in the early years of FBI. This movie is also offers another perspective and opportunist to understand Bureau's founder director, J. Edgar Hoover.

The robbery scenes are classy, a very high quality. It is very well-done movie from costumes to acting. The sound wasn't so great though. The pace is somehow dull but the movie overall gets much better after the first watch.

If you watch it on DVD, make sure not to miss special features.
Nominated for several awards, but most notably for SAGA.

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a real-life bank robber's story
a based-on-a-true-story heist
a serious heist movie
a nice team work heist
a heist packed with action
a heist movie with an extensive cast

then this is your movie.

***
If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

The Sting (1973)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Stander (2003)
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Thieves Like Us (1974)

If you liked this movie, imdb believes you might like also:
(available in the blog)

The Town (2010)
Inside Man (2006)

*** 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery, Bank Robbers
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 5/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 2/5

Originality of the Story in General: 4/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Point Break (1991)

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Starred Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, John C. McGinley, James LeGros, Lee Tergesen...

1991, United States & Japan , English
 

Now it is time to surf little bit. Don't you tired of robbing banks?

A heist movie, whose tagline was '100% Pure Adrenaline'. That's so true for this movie.

What would excite you more, pump 100% adrenaline to your veins? Disguising in ex-American presidents outfit? Surfing against ocean's giant waves? Throwing yourself down from an airplane? Or robbing banks? Well, a gang in this movie does it all.

What about the hardest assignment for an undercover agent? Chasing after some bank robbers? Chasing after some bank robbers who do parachuting? Chasing after bank robbers, who do parachuting and surfing? Trying to leak to bank robber gang by participating their parachuting, surfing activities? Well, an underground agent in this movie does it all.

One of the coolest heist movie ever made, Point Break, features a fast, fast, fast life style and fast heists. If this American-Japanese co-production robbery movie can't offer you the adrenaline you are seeking for, then give up from this blog and consult to 'All the Movies Ever Made in Cinema History' catalogue.

Keanu Reeves won and Patrick Swayze got a nomination for Most Desirable Male category with this movie, and the movie was nominated for Best Action Sequence in MTV Movie Awards.
The director of the movie is Kathryn Bigelow, the only female director who has ever won an Oscar for directing.

To see the whole blog, please click here.

If you look for;

lots of chasing
crazy, cool characters
a heist from a Oscar winner woman director
100% pure adrenaline
robbers with fast style of life

then this is your movie.

***

If you liked this movie, I believe you might also like:
(available in the blog)

  Heat (1995)
Le Premier Cercle/Inside Ring/Ultimate Heist (2009) 
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) 
Thieves Like Us (1974)

*** 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery, Character Study / Thieves

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 4/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 4/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 5/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 0/5

Originality of the Story in General: 4/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 4/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 4/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Starred Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Edward Bunker, Quentin Tarantino, Kirk Baltz...

1992, United States, English

One of the best examples of Alternative Robbery / Heist cinema. Renowned director Tarantino's first feature movie as director. What a start for a director!

The dialogues are the best part of the movie as in all Tarantino movies. Especially the sequences, where the boss delivers colors to the team or discussion about tipping the waitress reached already to a cult status in popular cinema history. You have a lot of original and funny characters; in brief a typical Tarantino movie. If you are a Tarantino fan, you will probably love it. If not, as a heist movie fan you can still enjoy. If you hate Tarantino's style, then it might be another story. But again it worth to give a shot, because it can be a very unique experience in your heist movies adventure.

To see the whole blog, please click here.

If you look for;

a heist movie from Tarantino

a heist movie focuses on characters
a heist movie focusses mainly aftermath of the heist
great dialogues

 

then this is your movie.

***

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

The Lookout (1992)
Armored (2009)

If you liked this movie, IMDb believes you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Snatch (2000)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Heat (1995)


*** 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 1/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 4/5

Surprise Level: 4/5

Humor Level: 3/5

Originality of the Story in General: 5/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 4/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

 

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Directed by George Roy Hill
Starred Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross, Strother Martin, Henry Jones, George Furth, Jeff Corey, Ted Cassidy, Kenneth Mars
1969, USA, English with some Spanish dialogues

Here it is a classic movie. Not only for this genre, but also for the entire cinema history. Actually, I am not sure to qualify it as a robbery movie. It may be more character study. But we have lots of serious or funny, long or short, pro or post robbery scenes.


Breathtaking beauty of Katharine Ross is completing two giant actors, Paul Newman and Robert Redford's capturing performances. The story is funny, the movie is *beautiful*, and the cinematography is excellent.


You will be laughing, sweating, and nailed to your chair. Maybe not exactly for the genre, but it is a must-see for all cinema fans.


A few notes on the production... Paul Newman is doing all his stunts himself in the bicycle sequence, after his stunt was unable to stay on the bike. The actual name of the gang was The Wild Bunch. But, when Sam Peckinpah's movie The Wild Bunch was released a few months earlier, the name of the gang was changed to the Hole in the Wall Gang. The movie is rated #73 Greatest Movie at All Time and #7 for 10 greatest films in the genre 'Western' by American Film Institute. With 9 wins, the movie currently holds the record for British Academy Awards (BAFTAs). The movie won 4 Oscars, Best Cinematography, Original Score, Best Writing as well as Best Song for 'Raindrops Keen Fallin' on My Head', while it was nominated for Best Picture, Director and Sound categories.


On top of all, it is mostly a true story.

To see the whole blog, please click here.

If you are looking for;

Nostalgia

A classic movie

A movie about robbers more than robbery

Award winner robbery movie

A little bit funny

A lot of chasing scenes

then this is your movie.


***

If you like this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Point Break (1991)
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)
The Social Network (2010)
The Sting (1973)
Thieves Like Us (1974)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Public Enemies (2009)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
The Train Robbers (1973) 
Maverick (1994)

If you like this movie, imdb believes you might like also:
(available in the blog)

The Sting (1973) 

*** 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Train Robbery, Bank Robbery, Bank Robbers, Thieves / Character Study

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Scenes: 3/5

Actors' Performances: 5/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 3/5

Originality of the Story in General: 2/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 4/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

 

Stander (2003)

Directed by Bronwen Hughes

Starred Thomas Jane, David O'Hara, Dexter Fletcher, Deborah Kara Unger ...

2003, South Africa & Canada & Germany & United Kingdom, English with some Afrikaan & Zulu dialogues

If we would make a world heist movies tour, this movie has to be our destination for Republic of South Africa. 

This one has a pretty political standing. It doesn't start so, but it evolves into so :) And it absolutely deserves attention.

A slow pace, political and different heist movie. The most shocking part is that it is based on a true story.

You can see this movie in some 'Top Heist Movies' listings. Particularly for the listings enjoy 'alternative' robbery movies.

To see the whole blog, please click here.

If you look for;

a political heist movie
a slow pace, serious robbery movie
a heist movie based on true story
an ironical heist movie

then this is your movie.

***
If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)
 
Public Enemies (2009)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975) 
Armored (2009)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967) 
Thieves Like Us (1974)
Bande à part / Band of Outsiders (1964)

If you liked this movie, IMDb believes you might like also:
(available in the blog)
 
The Lookout (2007)


 *** 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 2/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 2/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 3/5

Originality of the Story in General: 4/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.