Rating of
3.5/4
What's this for? For bein' an honest cop?
mdtinney - wrote on 09/27/09
I was so convinced that Al Pacino's best performance by far was in Scent Of A Woman, but after watching Serpico again earlier this week, I have to rank his performance in this movie a close 2nd!!! Al Pacino plays Frank Serpico, an honest cop who takes on the corruption of the entire police force. With the motto to serve the people, Serpico comes into the force to find that he is the object of all ridicule because of his honesty and dedication. And with a view to not succumb to the corruption he becomes the 'wierdo cop' with whom nobody wants to work. Through innumerable transfers Serpico can't cope with force anymore, and when the police commissioner chooses not to help him, he decides to take matter into his own hands. The irony is that his cause is given notice only when he gets shot in the face. I really liked the way the movie began, showing the wounded Serpico being taken to the hospital. With a few reactions from his superiors, the press and his fellow cops, 'six of whom said they'd have liked to shoot him', the audience is taken on a flashback of Serpico's life and the events that led to him getting shot. The ending was equally powerful, especially in the scene where Serpico was given the Gold Shield and he refused by saying, "Why this? For being an honest cop or for being stupid enough to get shot in the face?" With a powerful script, moving music, great performances and a brilliant director Sydney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon, another fabulous movie) Serpico is one powerful movie experience. It is made with a certain realism that makes the audience feel for the protagonist and everything that he goes through. Also with so many hair styles and facial changes it is amazing how there is not one technical error with reference to the script. The movie is worth having as a collector's item so if you haven't seen the movie go and buy the DVD now.
