Serpico (DVD)

Frank Serpico was a real life New York cop whose name is now as well known as that of Elliott Ness . However, the movie entitled with his name and starring Al Pacino as Serpico has a more closely personal and riveting effect than the ever-watchable Untouchables. Unlike Ness who had the FBI behind his brave attempts to stamp out corruption, Serpico was taking on his own force and those working nearest to him. When on his first day as a rookie cop Frank is offered his half of a bribe by his partner he refuses and will not be moved. Nor will he take part in brutality considered the ...  Read the complete review

Al Pacino stars as Frank Serpico, a NYPD officer who is most famous for stepping forward to report and testify against police corruption in the 1970s. A true story, based on Peter Maas' autobiography of the character, Serpico portrays the honest cop who is harassed and distrusted by his fellow officers, simply for doing the right thing. The film opens with Serpico in hospital, reflecting on past events. We see his rise from rookie to the more experienced officer, becoming familiar with the dodgy dealings of the cops around him. Frank soon learns that if you don't accept bribes from a variety of different sources then you really aren't part of the team at all. ...  Read the complete review

I went through a stage of buying every single Pacino film. I was really excited about this movie, seeing that he had won all sorts of awards for it and it was highly acclaimed. However, I was disappointed. The film tells the true story of a policeman who refuses to get involved in the corruption filling his workplace. Not only does he not get involved, he dobs in those who are breaking the very thing they are supposed to be upholding: the law. Well, this is a bizarre film. For me, I wanted to see the intensity that Pacino is so good at: think Scarface, think Godfather, and you see what I wanted, but it's not there. No, Pacino is annoyingly calm in ...  Read the complete review

Al Pacino is majestic as Frank Serpico, an honest NY policeman, struggling to survive in a city and a police force riddled with corruption. The film was made a year after Pacino made his name as Michael Corleone in "The Godfather", and he received a Best Actor nomination for "Serpico", narrowly missing out to Jack Lemmon. This is arguably his best ever performance and really established him as the greatest and most versatile actor of his generation. "Serpico" is a formidable tale. Based on the real life experiences of Frank Serpico, a New York cop who spent an 11-year career battling corruption in the force, this is a vivid and ...  Read the complete review