Serpico

Rating:
Summary: Pachino was the only character
Review: On first viewing this film I did find myself plunged into a mass of confusion. Ok, so I'm not the brightest of people but I am good with my films. The problem with this film for me was the weakness of the other characters. Serpico was the only person we were truly aquianted with. This made it difficult, for me anyway, to get into the film. I had no emotional attachments. The story line was bland and too realistic. If i wanted to watch real life I would sit in Safeway all day. This is not what I would like to see at the cinema. If I wasn't studying it for media I would never have stuck out the whole film. However, I don't have the best attention span.

Rating:
Summary: Al Pacino at his best.
Review: One of the best films of the early '70s. Exceptional cast, wonderful music. I recently enjoyed Tony Roberts on Broadway in "The Allergists Wife" which brought back memories of his performance in the Serpico movie. I had to have it, immediately purchased the VHS edition and was not disappointed. This is a mus purchase for any "baby boomer" that enjoyed such New York-based films and programs like Kojak, NYPD, Taxi Driver, etc.

Rating:
Summary: One Man vs. Citywide Corruption
Review: Out of all the performances he did in the 1970s, Al Pacino's amazing, realistic performance in Sidney Lumet's 1973 film SERPICO is by far his most underrated. Even though the movie was a success and critics praise this as one of Pacino's best roles (I would agree to that), SERPICO was sandwiched in between the two GODFATHER movies which contained Pacino's most famous role of Michael Corleone. It seems that some have forgotten this film, but luckily I read about it recently and now have discovered how great this movie really is. It was also a groundbreaking motion picture - the first movie ever to expose police corruption among the NYC departments. Corruption was known to exist in police departments, but it remained largely underground and unknown to the public. When the original book was published followed by the film version which became SERPICO, it exposed the public to a hidden evil that was lurking right under their noses and how one honest cop tried to change all that for good.

The film is based on a true story, on the life of Frank Serpico (Pacino). It begins in the late '60s and ends in 1972, during Serpico's five-year ordeal as a NYC undercover cop. When we first see Frank in his younger years, graduating from training, he's an idealistic man who wants to help people. It's clear from the start that Serpico is not your average policeman: he is honest, a do-gooder, wants to help people, by-the-book, and his facial and top hair are extravagant. He hates wearing the uniform and becomes a part of the plainclothes division. As time rolls on, Serpico notices that various police officers are taking money from criminals as well as bribes, and also beat the criminals mercilessly. It's all drug money or the like, and Serpico wants no part of it. Throughout the movie, he constantly ignores the copious bribes offered to him by his peers. Thus, Serpico hops from precinct to precinct hoping to work with honest cops, but it turns out that every precinct in the city is even worse than the last one. Frank wants to expose this police corruption, but his so-called "friends" give him false promises and drive him towards frustration. He begins to snap, it damages his relationships, and when he says that he is all alone in this case, you can't help but believe him.

Serpico's story is not a triumphant one. For all the good he tried to do and for all the effort he tried to do to put an end to rampant corruption, he is constantly spit on for his actions. Pacino really gives an effective performance throughout. He starts off as a nice, humble guy who wants to do the right thing at the beginning, and by the end the right thing almost causes him to lose his life. This is a really great showcase for Pacino's talent. Sidney Lumet directs the film with gritty expertise. You really feel like you're there in New York circa 1970 and it just adds to the painful, grim realism of the film. The special features on the DVD are also good, the best of which is a short but rewarding two-part documentary on the making of the film.

SERPICO is a towering achievement. It deserves more credit that it gets. Here is a movie that features one of our greatest actors in prime form and a wrenching story told the way the real Frank Serpico would've wanted it: honest.

Rating:
Summary: The Cop That Couldn't be Bought
Review: Pacino has done it again. He has impressed me with another classic film.

Rating:
Summary: Pacino is really tough, very realistic actor.
Review: Pacino is really tough and sure good to be nominated. Very realistic performance.

I hope this film comes out on DVD

Rating:
Summary: High Praise? read on...
Review: Seeing this film was the major decision-making factor in my becoming a police officer some 23+ years ago. What greater compliment could I pay?

Assuming that the real Frank Serpico was accurately depicted, my estimation of that man has, if anything, doubled as a result of my years as a cop, trying in my own way to follow in those grand footsteps. Pacino simply nails the walking-on-eggshells, lone-wolf, and frankly courageous aspects of the character. The perfectly realised portrayal of the concommitant self-destructive turmoil which poisons Serpicos personal relationships as an almost inevitable result, should have garnered him with the Best Actor Oscar that year. A young and brilliant Pacino at his stone-best before he started caricaturising himself.

Lumet at his zenith. If you love Lumets directing, please seek out the hidden gem "Lovin' Molly" from about circa 1974 starring Blythe Danner, Anthony Hopkins and Beau Bridges. Trust me, it will affect you.

'Serpico' has lost none of it's impact despite being close to 30 years old. Please rent it, buy it, or, if you are truly brave, live it.

(The score and cinematography are also excellent. And the cardboard box that the videotape comes in makes an excellent source of dietary fibre.)

Rating:
Summary: Pacino at his best!!!!!!!! But not on DVD Why??
Review: Serpico is another forgotten classic. It's a the true story about NYPD Officer Frank Serpico who risks everything even his life to be an honest cop. I hope Paramount releases it on DVD with all the extras.

Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Character Study
Review: Serpico is quite a gripping movie. Al Pacino plays a police officer who has numerous battles within the bureacracy of the NYC Police Department. When Pacino attempts to report unsavory police conduct to the higher ups, he faces much resentment from many angles.

The plot of the story has several intriguing twists and turns that manage to keep the viewers hooked in spite of a sometimes sluggish pace. Its interesting to note how Pacino(Serpico)gives such a haggard appearance as a police officer/detective. Also quite alarming is the way police officers can be so tempermental to differing points of view.

Like the title of my review states, this is a fascinating character study as well as a gripping story.

Rating:
Summary: Going By The Book
Review: Serpico teams well known director Sydney Lumet, and actor Al Pacino, in one of the most memorable films of the early 70's. The film has one of my favorite performances from Pacino ever put on film. His Oscar nomination for the film was well deserved.

Based on the real life Police Officer Frank Serpico, (Pacino) learns very quickly that, following the rules, is not expected, to be part of the his job. He is asked by his superiors to go undercover, to root out dirty cops. Little does he know that taking on this task, could cost him everything, including his life.

Made at a time when the establishment and the counter culture were constanly at odds. Pacino dives head first into the title role and doesn't let go. His skill is unmatched here. He puts the grit in gritty. For his part Lumet, matches Pacino beat for beat, with almost flawless filmmaking New York City itself becomes a character in the film as well.

After all these years of watching Serpico on fullscreen VHS, I'm glad, to finally see it, in all of its widescreen glory on DVD. The handfull of extras on the disc, may not seem like much, but they do provide some insight about the film. All of this extra material is pretty self explanitary Serpico: From Real to Reel takes us through the process of how the story made it to the silver screen. Inside Serpico takes us through filmming. Serpico: Favorite Moments is just a montage of footage from the film. The photo gallery with commentary by Lumet is the best of the bunch.

This DVD gets ***** stars for the film alone. A must have for fans of Pacino. Also check out Dog Day Afternoon, teaming Lumet and Pacino, in another great collaboration

Rating:
Summary: A Superb Film, Al Pacino is Brilliant
Review: SERPICO, is one of my favorite movies of all times. I love everything about this film especially Al Pacino who gives the performance of a lifetime. Pacino was so convinving as undercover cop Frank Serpico that it is scary. This film defined the way police corruption is looked upon in the eyes of everyday policemen and it also became one of the first films in the 1970's to explore the antihero in its most complex form. This movie was s smash hit at the box office in 1973, when it was release and it was nominated for I believe five Academy Awards including Best Picure of the year and the Best Actor for Al Pacino, sadly enough neither the film or the actor won the coveted award. A lot of people say that it was The Godfather that Pacino proved that he was a great actor and even though in The Godfather he did an excellent job as Michael Corleone, it was in SERPICO, that I feel he was at his very best. He did follow with other great films like DOG DAY AFTERNOON and BOBBY DEERFILED and he was brilliant in both but it was after watching SERPICO for the first time that I became aware of Pacino's brilliant acting talent. This film is a MUST if you care about excellence in acting or if you just one to see a great movie. I highly recommend the book in which the film is based on it is also excellent. You should read the book first and then see the movie to get a better understanding of everthing that the character goes thru but either way if you see the film first and read the book after is no biggie. Both the film and book are excellent and I highly recommend both, nothing short of brilliant on all counts.