Serpico

Italy, United States

1973

129 Min

Color

1.85:1

Italian, Spanish, English

Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
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PROD Dino De Laurentiis, Roger M. Rothstein, Martin Bregman

SCR Peter Maas, Waldo Salt, Norman Wexler, Sidney Kingsley

CAST Al Pacino, John Randolph, Jack Kehoe, Edward Grover, Tony Roberts, Barbara Eda-Young, Cornelia Sharpe, Biff McGuire, Allan Rich, Norman Ornellas, John Medici, Bernard Barrow, M. Emmet Walsh, George Ede, John McQuade, Nathan George, Gus Fleming

ED Dede Allen, Richard Marks, Ronald Roose, Angelo Corrao

MUSIC Mikis Theodorakis, Giacomo Puccini

Synopsis

The first film in Lumet’s unofficial trilogy about New York City police corruption (followed by Prince of the City and Q&A) recounts the true-life exploits of Frank Serpico (Al Pacino, in an Oscar-nominated performance), a plainclothes cop whose landmark testimony helped to expose the biggest corruption scandal in NYPD history. Filmed on location in four of the five boroughs and set to composer Mikis Theodorakis’ Grammy-nominated score, Serpico endures as one of the great New York crime stories, and a remarkable portrait of one man’s unwavering resolve in the face of widespread intimidation. —Film Society of Lincoln Center

Director

Sidney Lumet

Sidney Lumet (born June 25, 1924) is an American film director, with over 50 films to his name, including 12 Angry Men (1957), Serpico (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Network (1976) and The Verdict (1982), all of which, except for Serpico (1973), earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Director.

According to The Encyclopedia of Hollywood, Lumet is one of the most prolific directors of the modern era making more than one movie per year on average since his directorial debut in 1957. He is especially noted for his ability to draw major actors to his projects. “Because of his visual economy, strong direction of actors, vigorous storytelling and use of the camera to accent themes,” states Turner Classic Movies. “Lumet produced a body of work that could only be defined as extraordinary.”

One of his steady themes during his career has been the “fragility of justice and the police and their corruption,” according to Thomson’s Biographical Dictionary of Film. He can deliver “powerhouse performances from lead actors,” and fine work from character actors and is today one of the foremost figures of New York moviemaking. His sensitivity to actors and to the rhythms of the city have made him “America’s longest-lived descendant of the 1950s Neorealist tradition and its urgent commitment to ethical responsibility.”

Lumet began as an off-Broadway director, then became a highly efficient TV director. His first movie was typical of his best work: a well-acted, tightly written, deeply considered “problem picture,” 12 Angry Men (1957). Since then, Lumet has divided his energies among other idealistic problem pictures along with literate adaptations of plays and novels, big stylish pictures, and New York-based black comedies. As a result of directing 12 Angry Men, he is also responsible for leading the first wave of directors who made a successful transition from TV to movies. For being one of the most reliable and dependable directors of the last half-century, in 2005 he received an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement for his “brilliant services to screenwriters, performers, and the art of the motion picture.”—Wikipedia

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MGeo

18Mar13

I saw this a few months after Dog Day Afternoon. I can't help but feel it is lesser than DDA, but that doesn't change the fact that it's an amazing movie. This true account of how Frank Serpico made it his crusade to fight against police corruption in NY and would stop at nothing to see that justice is upheld is nothing short of inspiring. Serpico is a true hero and Pacino's portrayal ensures he won't be forgotten.

jamie-scott-dyson

8Mar13

Not the epic 70's masterpiece i wanted but thats what expectations give you! it had many beatiful moments and pacino was excellent but i felt most scenes where far too short because the film has to get through so much which made me feel like i coudn't co0nnect with the films intentions. I certainly prefer dog day afternoon.

byavuz

3Feb13

If it's going to be a film about cops-and-robbers then Serpico has set the standard. A flawlessly paced story conveyed in smart-as-hell dialogue; camerawork that shifts and cranes its neck over buildings and enemies; urban decay conveyed in the hot and cold, in all its dirty glory; and your perfect/ly tortured hero. When Serpico goes nuts on the loan shark, you make fists cause' you wanna give the guy a hand.

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