|
|
|
1973
|
SERPICO
|
|
|
STARRING:AL
PACINO,TONY ROBERTS,BARBARA EDE YOUNG,JACK KEHOE, CORNELIA SHARPE,EDWARD
GROVER,JOHN RANDOLPH,ALLAN RICH
BASED
ON THE BOOK BY PETER MASS
SCREENPLAY
BY WALTER SALT & NORMAN WEXLER
PRODUCED
BY MARTIN BREGMAN
DIRECTED
BY SIDENY LUMET
GENRE:BIOGRAPHY/CRIME/DRAMA
RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:18/USA:R
RUNNING
TIME:129 MIN
|
A
biography that strives for realism and not airbrushed, non-fiction
escapism, Serpico is the fascinating story of New York police
officer Frank Serpico (Al Pacino), a man of unquestionable morals
who will not let his sense of right and wrong be compromised, despite
being the subject of ridicule and threats within a police force which
only wants to save face and not pursue justice.
The movie begins with Serpico rushed to hospital after being shot
in the face by a suspected police officer. It then flashes back to
his graduation day from the Police Academy. A cop in touch with what
is happening on the street, Serpico comes into his own adopting a
cool cat/hippie look and setting up a residence in Greenwich Village.
His ability to blend in with the criminal element leads to a career
as a plain clothes cop, but also leads to him being despised by the
blue collar officers who view him as queer. Unhappy with the treatment
he is receiving, he asks for and granted a transfer to another precinct
where he receives the first of many attempted payoffs which he refuses
but his fellow officers gladly accept. Seen as a threat for not taking
money, Serpico is isolated and threatened on a daily basis, the corruption
and stress of his work life crossing over to his personal life.
Frank Serpico is one of cinemas best remembered and most revered hero's,
played well by Al Pacino with the type of naturalism, emotional depth
and charisma that only a movie god like Pacino could muster. He is
in a class of his own in terms of transformation on screen. His performance
in The Godfather has been critically applauded for such
a feat, and Serpico is no different as the viewer bears witness
to Pacino change through the years from a fresh faced rookie cop to
a grizzled outcast. The range in his acting is incredible. Two key
scenes point this out; the first is the Hell's Gate bridge confrontation
between Serpico and Police Captain McClain (Biff McGuire), where Pacino
unleashes his now trademark intensity. The second scene is Serpico's
moving breakdown while he is recovering from his gunshot wound in
hospital. Both scenes are delivered with the upmost sincerity and
heart breaking humanity. The Godfther gave Pacino his
big break, but Serpico made him a star.
Outside of Martin Scorsese, no one capture's New York City quite like
Sidney Lumet. From the closed in walls of the films various police
precincts to the bohemian streets of Greenwich Village, Lumet and
cinematographer Arthur J. Ornitz capture the city and use it to their
advantage, transforming it into a living, breathing thing and - outside
of Serpico - it is the movies most important character. Yet perhaps
the most memorable image is the films final shot of Serpico sitting
alone with only his sheep dog by his side. It is a moving and telling
image which sums up the man perfectly; alone in a world without a
friend in sight, and only his will to fight the good fight to keep
him going.
Serpico is a marvellous, engrossing movie. And yet the most
amazing thing about it is how little it is mentioned whenever the
conversation of the greatest films of the 1970's, no, of all time
are discussed. An essential viewing experience for Pacino's performance
alone. |
|
|
