Acclaimed filmmaker Sidney Lumet dies at 86

Sidney Lumet, a filmmaker with more than fifty years in the industry, has died of lymphoma at the age of 86.

Lumet’s work often consisted of dark dramas and black comedies- Turner Classic Movies says it was “social realism which permeated his greatest work that truly defined Lumet  — the themes of youthful idealism beaten down by corruption and the hopelessness of inept social institutions allowed him to produce several trenchant and potent films that no other director could have made.”

Lumet collaborated with Al Pacino on the films “Dog Day Afternoon” and “Serpico,” and directed the now-classic broadcast news satire “Network.” The New York Times described Lumet as “the quintessential New York director,” and quoted Lumet on the influence of Gotham on the films he directed:

“Locations are characters in my movies,” he wrote. “The city is capable of portraying the mood a scene requires.”

Lumet finally received a lifetime achievement Oscar in 2005.

[NYT, LAT]