Based on a True Story

2004
1h 15m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

'Based on a True Story' is a documentary on John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile's attempt to rob a bank in Flatbrush, NY, which was later made into a movie in 1975.'Based on a True Story' is a documentary on John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile's attempt to rob a bank in Flatbrush, NY, which was later made into a movie in 1975.'Based on a True Story' is a documentary on John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile's attempt to rob a bank in Flatbrush, NY, which was later made into a movie in 1975.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

213

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total

Photos

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Crazy credits
The makers of this film would like to thank: Mom & Dad

Connections
References Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Soundtracks
Lollypops & Shotguns (A Hostage's Lament)
Words & Music by L. & F. Tutino
Performed by The Romanaires

User reviews4

Review

Featured review

10/10

a great hostage situation!

This is a great documentary! It won an award for best documentary at the Int Seattle Film Festival. They reconstruct the robbery in Brooklyn and are confronted with a robber who is still a crazy madman. It's really stupid that this guy from Australia didn't notice the brilliant parallel between the negotiations over a phone line. Like the FBI negotiated over phone with this crazy robber, the director was forced to do the same 30 years later. The robber wants a lot of money for cooperation and he desperately wants to control the story in the way the film should be made. It feels like he is keeping hostage again (but this time his side of the story). Dog Day Afternoon made him a hero. Based on a True Story reveals the true character of the robber named john Wojtowicz. There is great archival footage of the real robbery, Ex hostages, the FBI agent who shot Sal, the Robbers ex wife, Sydney Lumet and scriptwriter Frank Pierson. It's a pity they didn't get Al Pacino. I think it's a cool film and it was very revealing for me!