Based on a real incident that occurred in 1972, Sidney Lumet’s 1975 Dog Day Afternoon is a hilarious, often moving portrait of an incompetent unlikely gay bank robber (Al Pacino) who needs money to finance a sex-change operation for his lover (John Cazale). The movie scores on every level of character detail and nuance. Pacino does a brilliantly feral turn in the lead role as Sonny. As the man says, “Attica! Attica!” (R) ELLIOTT STEIN

Mon., May 23, 9:30 p.m.; Wed., May 25, 9:30 p.m.; May 27-29, 9:30 p.m., 2011