Review of Serpico (1973) by Richard N — 18 Mar 2015

The plot of Serpico is based around a true story dealing with corruption, bribes and kick-backs within the NYPD which far from being a few isolated instances seems to have been the norm at least in the 70's. The whole sleazy structure is threatened by Frank Serpico who as an uncorrupted cop finds himself shunned by his venal colleagues and marginalized by the very organization he works for for threatening their nefarious activities and illicit cash flows.

Serpico takes a bullet during a drugs bust which almost finishes him, but rather than assist a fellow officer his colleagues leave him to die a slow painful death yet miraculously for him he survives, much to the undoubted chagrin of the department. In breaking the unwritten code of silence and complicity in their corrupt activities Serpico made himself a target, a figure of derision even outright hostility, one they would have preferred to quietly disappear.

It ably makes the point that unaccountable authority corrupts absolutely, blurring the distinction between criminal and law enforcement, the so called good guys turning out to be equally rotten as those they're supposed to be investigating. Themes that still resonate today. Pacino gives one of his finest stand-out performances here and literally carries this film single-handed, quite an achievement. A certified classic of 70's cinema.