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Strike Back Below!

With a whopping 40+ films on his resume, Sidney Lumet has gone on to create a number of finest films ever made, recently proving that age hasn't deterred him one bit with the wonderfully crafted BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD (which was released on DVD last week). He's also helmed a number of clunkers, but when your filmography consists of films like the ones listed below, those can be easily forgiven.

Sidney Lumet

Genre of choice:
Drama/Thriller

Filmography:
12 Angry Men (1957)
Stage Struck (1958)
That Kind of Woman (1959)
The Fugitive Kind (1959)
The Iceman Cometh (1960)
Vu du pont (1961)
Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962)
The Pawnbroker (1964)
Fail-Safe (1964)
The Hill (1965)
The Group (1966)
The Deadly Affair (1966)
Bye Bye Braverman (1968)
The Sea Gull (1968)
The Appointment (1969)
Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970)
The Anderson Tapes (1971)
The Offence (1972)
Child's Play (1972)
Serpico (1973)
Lovin' Molly (1974)
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Network (1976)
Equus (1977)
The Wiz (1978)
Just Tell Me What You Want (1980)
Prince of the City (1981)
Deathtrap (1982)
The Verdict (1982)
Daniel (1983)
Garbo Talks (1984)
Power (1986)
The Morning After (1986)
Running on Empty (1988)
Family Business (1989)
Q & A (1990)
A Stranger Among Us (1992)
Guilty as Sin (1993)
Night Falls on Manhattan (1997)
Critical Care (1997)
Gloria (1999)
Strip Search (2004)
Find Me Guilty (2006)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)

The Best

1. 12 ANGRY MEN - You can read my DVD review of the "50th Anniversary Edition" by clicking HERE.

2. DOG DAY AFTERNOON - This fascinating drama/thriller details the true story of a bank robbery during the '70s in New York City. It's the type of story that seems too good to be real, made even more compelling by Lumet's taut direction and a harrowing performance by Al Pacino.

3. NETWORK - This searing satire on television and news media has only grown more topical with age, making it a must watch for all those with an interest in how America eats up whatever the media is willing to put forth.

4. FAIL-SAFE - Like a more serious-minded take on DR. STRANGELOVE, this black-and-white Cold War thriller presents a scenario where American planes are mistakenly sent to deliver a nuclear attack on Moscow due to an electrical malfunction. Powerful and intense.

5. SERPICO - A gritty biopic about an honest cop who exposed the corruption of New York's police force. Much like DOG DAY AFTERNON, this is a thought-provoking tale held firmly together by Pacino's riveting performance and Lumet's expert craftsmanship.

The Worst

1. THE WIZ - A moronic and unnecessary African American recreation of THE WIZARD OF OZ. It's only entertaining in spite of itself, and even then it gets tiresome fast.

2. GLORIA - A curiously pointless and watered down remake of the 1980 film of the same name, the original having been written/directed by John Cassavetes.

3. A STRANGER AMONG US - A ridiculous culture clash crime drama in which Melanie Griffith plays a cop that goes undercover in a Hasidic neighborhood in New York City to identify a murderer.

Hidden Gem(s)

PRINCE OF THE CITY - A complex and unrelentingly honest study of crime, corruption, guilt, punishment, and friendship.

THE PAWNBROKER - This dark tale of a tormented Holocaust survivor running a pawnshop in Harlem is somber and disturbing, for all the right reasons. Very effective and powerful.

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT - Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical play about his wretched homelife is given a faithfully moody screen adaptation.

Style/Trademarks

Sidney Lumet has shown time and time again that crime and legal dramas are his area of expertise. Corruption is a recurring theme in many of these films. Lumet believes that any stylistic filmmaking choices should stem from the story at hand, and should not be applied needlessly. This has resulted in the majority of his films having a stronger focus on the actors over any sort of editing tricks.

Lumet is well known for being able to get the very best out of his actors, always encouraging creative collaboration. He has directed 17 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances. He's also known for his technical knowledge, as shown recently with his decision to shoot all future projects on HD instead of film.

Behind the Camera

Sidney Lumet was voted the 42nd Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly, has three movies listed in American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time (SERPICO, THE VERDICT, and 12 ANGRY MEN), and won an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2005.

He was the original director of FUNNY GIRL, but due to differences with Barbra Streisand and producer Ray Stark, left the production.

It was Lumet's idea to make the characters Cuban in SCARFACE. He also wanted to direct DEATH WITH, but with Jack Lemmon as the lead.

His top ten favorite films include: The Best Years of Our Lives, Fanny and Alexander, The Godfather, The Grapes of Wrath, Intolerance, The Passion of Joan of Arc, Ran, Roma, Singin' in the Rain, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Upcoming Projects

Sidney Lumet is currently attached to direct a film he wrote called GETTING OUT, about a prison inmate desperate to regain his freedom that becomes entangled in psychological games with his psychiatrist and the woman he desires. It's set for a 2009 release.

Overall

Despite his lack of consistency as a filmmaker, Sidney Lumet will always be remembered fondly for his work on films like DOG DAY AFTERNOON, 12 ANGRY MEN, NETWORK, etc. And if BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD is any indication, he has no intention of stopping there.

What are your favorite/least favorite Sidney Lumet films? Submit your choices in the Strike Back section below!