Pacino's titular hero sports a beard, rocks out the earrings and bell bottoms,
and gets his groove on at counterculture parties, but, unlike a few too many on
the corrupt New York police force that he valiantly works for, he maintains his
integrity. No free lunches for Frank Serpico; he's a noble soul through and
through. And yet, that's the problem, that's what puts him in harm's way, not
just with criminals, but with those who are supposedly there to protect and
serve. He might be a hit with the ladies (especially when calling himself Paco),
but his fellow boys in blue regard him as an outcast, a tattletale, a
troublemaker. Directed by Sidney Lumet in one of his many terrific cop films
(including "Prince of the City" and the fantastic "Q & A"), "Serpico" is a gritty, gripping and exciting
experience that boasts a performance by Pacino that's as powerful and heroic as
it is subtle and touching. A fine tribute to a great man, "Serpico" is now the
one name definition of "good cop."
Final report: He's a good one. Too good. (Everett
Collection)
Close
Hotmail
