Sometimes truth is more colorful than fiction. Such is the case of John Wojtowicz, the inspiration behind Sidney Lumet’s classic thriller Dog Day Afternoon. Like Al Pacino’s Sonny Wortzik character, Wojtowicz claims he robbed a Chase Manhattan bank branch for the love of a transgendered woman. But there is a lot more to Wojtowicz’s story than that, and Allison Berg and Frank Keraudren capture it all in The Dog, a hugely entertaining and surprisingly poignant documentary. Blending archival footage and contemporary interviews, the film presents an in-depth portrait of a man who evolved from Goldwater Republican to Stonewall era gay rights activist before taking his legendary detour into crime. The Dog comes to theaters August 8 and VOD August 15. –Pam Grady