Serpico (1973)

Featured Audience Ratings

• AJ V

  
  My favourite movie about a cop who fights against the corruption in his department, Pacino is fantastic in this movie. Plus, it's based on a true story, which makes it cooler. I highly recommend this movie.

• Dan S

  
  A brave, unflinching look at police corruption, powered by an electrifying Al Pacino portraying Frank Serpico and how he stood above his fellow officers. Although the film is dated (seen in the opening when Serpico suffers a wound to his face and it rewinds back - back when this movie… More
  A brave, unflinching look at police corruption, powered by an electrifying Al Pacino portraying Frank Serpico and how he stood above his fellow officers. Although the film is dated (seen in the opening when Serpico suffers a wound to his face and it rewinds back - back when this movie made everyone knew who Frank Serpico was and knew that this had happened - not me), it is fearless in detailing the disturbing and despicable men who were employed at the NYPD during the late 60's. In terms of dirty cop movies, this one takes the cake. As already mentioned, a lot of credit has to go to Pacino for making this film so enamoring, for his character is curiously laid-back until he starts to realize just how much he's risking his life with his actions against his own men. For a two hour movie, it flies by fast, as director Sidney Lumet proves once again that he's a master of pacing his films. For any Pacino fan (like me), this is a must-see.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Say it isn't so, Serpico."</i> The true story about an honest New York cop who blew the whistle on rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"Say it isn't so, Serpico."</i> The true story about an honest New York cop who blew the whistle on rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Hot off "The Godfather", Al Pacino got the equally good role of New York cop Frank Serpico, who exposed corruption in the NYPD. The movie really gives one an insight into the Big Apple in the late '60s and early '70s, and we see how Serpico was basically the only cop on the force who took his job seriously. Eventually, of course, his cohorts took revenge on him. What's really interesting in the movie is the contrast between Serpico when he's in uniform and when he's undercover, looking like the ultimate hippie. But above all, "Serpico" shows why Al Pacino is one of the greatest actors of our time. And of course, this was when director Sidney Lumet was going through what was probably the best period in his career (along with "Murder on the Orient Express", "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Network"). A great movie.

• First L

  
  A cop gets shot, the police are taking him to the hospital. "Guess who's been shot?" says the cop calling it in. Everyone knows it's Serpico. It's been expected ("I know at least 3 cops who would've liked to have shot him" says one of the… More
  A cop gets shot, the police are taking him to the hospital. "Guess who's been shot?" says the cop calling it in. Everyone knows it's Serpico. It's been expected ("I know at least 3 cops who would've liked to have shot him" says one of the police back at the station). Why? Why is Serpico the most hated man on the force? Based on the real life of Frank Serpico, "Serpico" is the story of an honest cop who's stuck in a world of graft and police corruption. He's unusual for a cop: he dresses like a hippy, he he has unusual taste (in opera, ballet, etc.), and has an extreme love of animals (every scene, the guy has a different pet- dog, mouse, parrot, etc.). This makes him an outsider from the start. While not every cop is on the take, it just seems that way, Serpico is paired with corrupt partners time and time again. The thing about cops on the take, they don't trust cops who ain't. Serpico's relationships all suffer the strain of being an outsider in a world where your life depends on the trust of your fellow officers. He blows up at home, taking his frustrations out on his girlfriends. The corruption goes all the way to the top. When the D.A. wants Serpico to testify, he doesn't see why he should stick his neck out, if it's only for the penny ante street cops. If Serpico's going down, he wants to go after the big names. "Serpico" is a tough cop film that bridges the gap between 40s and 50s film noir and 70s realism, but it's a 70s movie through and through (though maybe not as much noir as say "Chinatown"). I assume it also provided the inspiration for 80s cop shows like "Hill Street Blues". A tense drama about good in the face of overwhelming evil.

• Conner R

  
  I didn't particularly find this to be all that great. While Al Pacino is great, it has a lengthy story that has very little importance. It tended to get a little preachy at times and I felt it lacked a purpose. It's extremely dated, in the worst way possible.

• Anthony L

  
  Sidney Lumet and Al Pacino at their finest. This is a very slow paced but utterly cool police drama that has often been mimicked but has never been bettered. Brilliant.

• Aaron N

  
  Tom Keough: Now I ain't sayin' who. They just said ya'... ya' couldn't be trusted, you know? Frank Serpico: 'Cause I don't take money, right? Tom Keough: Frank, let's face it. Who can trust a cop who don't take money? A well made cop… More
  Tom Keough: Now I ain't sayin' who. They just said ya'... ya' couldn't be trusted, you know? Frank Serpico: 'Cause I don't take money, right? Tom Keough: Frank, let's face it. Who can trust a cop who don't take money? A well made cop drama from director Sidney Lumet. Pacino is very good in the lead as a cop who goes through great lengths to stay honest to himself, as well as dealing with an ever changing wardrobe and hairstyles. Its a solid drama without any major action scenes to cheat the tone of the film. Pacino stars as Frank Serpico, first entering the film tragically, as he is carted into the ER with a gunshot wound to the face. Jumping back in time, we see Serpico as he first joins the force. During Serpico's time, as he slowly moves up the ladder, he is witness to a number of his fellow officers skimming off the top through criminal shake downs and bribes. Serpico will have none of this, even when offered, making the other guys nervous to befriend him. It doesn't help that Serpico chooses to work as an undercover cop, embracing the counterculture scene, letting his hair and bear grow long and looking generally shaggy throughout. Eventually, as Serpico becomes more and more fed up with corruption, he takes it upon himself to try and get the word out to the higher up officials that there are problems within the force. However, Serpico has a lot of red tape to get through if he wants to see any sort of action get taken. Gun shop owner: That gun takes a 14 shot clip. You expecting an army? Frank Serpico: No. Just a division. It's 70s Pacino, so of course he's very good here. The role is played very straight, with mild outbursts every so often, but the way he conveys his stress is appropriate and effective. I have to comment once again on his wardrobe in this film. I have no problem with it, but I was amused with the amount of different clothing he had for this film. Lumet's direction is solid here. Nothing over flashy in anyway. I was actually reminded of the docu-style that the French Connection had, although this film wasn't nearly as gritty. Still, the huge variety of locations in New York managed to give a good, authentic feel to the film, as well as the limited use of scoring. Overall a finely made film. Not necessarily one that I feel had many memorable moments in, but a quality performance from Pacino always makes a film watchable. Frank Serpico: I'm a marked man in this department. For what? District Attorney Tauber: I've already arranged a transfer for ya'. Frank Serpico: To where? China?

• Chris W

  
  Between the first two Godfather films, Pacino took a break and turned in a great performance in this engaging biopic based on the real life story of an honest cop with a thing for the counterculture fighting corruption amonst his own ranks. All of this would be considered cliche if… More
  Between the first two Godfather films, Pacino took a break and turned in a great performance in this engaging biopic based on the real life story of an honest cop with a thing for the counterculture fighting corruption amonst his own ranks. All of this would be considered cliche if this film came out now a days, but back in the 70's that wasn't much of an issue. This film is in the same vein as some of Jack Nicholson's "fighting the establishment" films from the same era. It's good stuff. I really liked the fact that Serpico didn't fit in with cops because he was honest and a hippie (a great look for Pacino), and that the hippies he looked like didn't trust him since he was a cop. It adds a level of human tragedy and alienation to things, but an atmosphere of cool and stylishness as well. It's a bit long, and heavy on dialogue, but it's well written and the acting from Pacino (and everybody) is what really makes the film great. Highly recommended.

• xGary X

  
  Al Pacino stars in a true life story of an honest cop who is stonewalled by his superiors and hated by his peers when he tries to expose the institutionalized corruption of the police department. Pacino puts in a typically strong performance as a man fighting alone against the system,… More
  Al Pacino stars in a true life story of an honest cop who is stonewalled by his superiors and hated by his peers when he tries to expose the institutionalized corruption of the police department. Pacino puts in a typically strong performance as a man fighting alone against the system, and he and Lumet bring a gritty believability to the proceedings. The supporting characters seemed to flit in and out of the story at random intervals however, which means that Pacino never really gets to share any relationships or dialogue of any real depth leaving it feeling a little dry and uninvolving. I also felt that it concentrated a little too much on his domestic situation which is clearly far less interesting than the action on the streets which combined with the painfully misplaced and corny soundtrack made it feel more like soapy melodrama than a cop drama in places. The final act when the investigation finally starts is worth waiting for, but it does seem a very long time in coming. On the whole a solid, well acted character driven cop film that didn't quite live up to its reputation for me, but worth seeing particularly for Pacino fans.

• Cassie H

  
  Didn't see it all, but from what I saw it was good.

• Dean !

  
  A great film based on a true stroy as a New York cop turns whistle blower on corruption in the police force and becomes an isolated figure.

• Pierluigi P

  
  I like Lumet's gritty approach, and of course Al Pacino's acting, but I don't think Dede Allen's montage helps it. overall, bold and significant.

• Tim S

  
  Lumet and Pacino at the top of their games makes for one of the best cop movies ever made. It's great to go back and watch this film to see the subtle, quiet Pacino that was lost as soon as he got an Oscar for Scent of a Woman.

• Ken S

  
  Pacino gives a great performance as a hippie cop who tries to bring down corruption in the NYPD. Lumet turns in a very realistic and touching (if now cliche') story of a man standing up against the system. Definitely a pre-cursor to Prince of the City.

• Lenny M

  
  Good script and acting but the constant wardrobe changes and hair growth of Pacino takes my attention away from the plot.

• Lady D

  
  Not quite the masterpiece I was expecting, however a great performance by Al Pacino. Based on true events, that makes this story all the more interesting, however there were moments in the story where I was bored.

• Curtis L

  
  This movie is a feel good film about doing what's right at all costs. The fact that it's pretty much totally true is inspiring.

• Michael G

  
  A high point in Pacino's career, but not his best work from the 70s.

• Danny R

  
  A tough, fascinating and true-life character study of Frank Serpico an honest New York City policeman who discovers wide-spread corruption in the police department, he is ostracize and endures the scorn and mistreatment from his fellow cops while attempting to perform his job with… More
  A tough, fascinating and true-life character study of Frank Serpico an honest New York City policeman who discovers wide-spread corruption in the police department, he is ostracize and endures the scorn and mistreatment from his fellow cops while attempting to perform his job with integrity. Al Pacino is magnificent in complex and unforgettable Oscar nominated and Golden Globe winning performance which is one of the finest of his career as the nonconformist undercover cop who couldn't keep his mouth shut after witnessing cops on the take, he goes to his superiors but they just ignored his charges, so he makes the potentially deadly decision that will make him a marked man in the police department, Serpico goes public and with his revelations to the New York Times newspaper about the corruption within the police department, this actions trigger an independent investigation by the Knapp Commission. Based on the book by Peter Mass with a excellent screenplay by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler. Fine direction by Sidney Lumet, a solid sense of reality is conveyed by the use of good New York City location footage, focusing on the habitue's of street crime, this is one of the gritty works of art from the early 70s cinema. Highly Recommended.

• Nicolas K

  
  I was literally blown away by the electrifying performance of Pacino, the masterful direction of Lumet and the mesmerizing music of Theodorakis. 35 years on this is still a film worth watching!

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