Serpico (2004)

Wow! Such a good movie.

Admirable film.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

When this movie came out in 1973, I was 13 years old. I saw it when it was first released and I've seen it several times since. Growing up in Queens NY and being the son of a NYPD Police Officer, the movie has always hit close to home, as my father was "on the job" during Serpico's tenure, and regularly confided in my mother the concerns he had working in "plain" clothes. Serpico's story is a one that needs to be told and retold as it is about the individual goodness of humanity, and the difficulties of maintaining your innocence in a corrupt organization. It should also serve as a chilling reminder, that those who are supposed to serve and protect, do not always carryout that function per their oaths and should be held accountable. Having spent a lot of time with NYPD cops when I was young, I can say that the performances, mannerism, behaviors and attitudes depicted by the cast were par for the course for cops of that era. Pacino is fantastic and plays the part flawlessly. People will be watching this classic for years to come.

Serpico is a cop in the 1960s-early 1970s. Unlike all his colleagues, he refuses a share of the money that the cops routinely extort from local criminals. Nobody wants to work with Serpico, and he's in constant danger of being placed in life threatening positions by his "partners". Nothing seems to get done even when he goes to the highest of authorities. Despite the dangers he finds himself in, he still refuses to 'go with the flow', in the hope that one day, the truth will be known. Serpico showcases Al Pacino as the only honest cop in Town and boy is he amazing? This film is energetic, spectacular and brilliant and packed with one of Pacino's finest perfomances just one Year after The Godfather!!!

SerpicoFocusing the whole feature i.e. of more than 2 hours only on a single character needs content and enough material to feed the audience which they easily provide with gripping screenplay to not let them wander off the screen even for a frame. Sidney Lemut still needs some better work on his execution and editing but that barely factors in here as the adaptation is way too smart and ahead of its time. Al Pacino is literally the heart of it; he beats fast and hard that helps it pumping and keeping the viewers alive for this glorious experience. Serpico breeds power, corruption, rage and politics on screen and successfully delivers it to the audience communicating through stellar performances like never before.

If you are a fan of Al Pacino's work you have to watch this one; if you are a fan of great movies you have to watch this one too. Yes, I really enjoyed it! I don't know if they show this Al Pacino's work in acting lessons across the world but they should. You can really feel the same emotions that go through Serpico's mind and during the movie you almost want to leave the chair and fight side-by-side with him. Even the ending isn't glamorized and stays true to the story being told. A great 10 out of 10 movie you won't regret watching and one you will come back to in a few years time.