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Serpico
1973 129 min United States of America R 16+
★8.3
Crime, Drama, History
Director: Sidney Lumet
Trailers
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Description
New York cop Frank Serpico blows the whistle on the rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.
Budget:
$3.5M
US Gross:
$29.8M
Worldwide:
$30.8M
Starring
Al Pacino
Actor
John Randolph
Actor
Jack Kehoe
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Actor (Drama)
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Actor
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Picture (Drama)
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Adapted Screenplay
BAFTA 1975
— Best Actor
BAFTA 1975
— Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music
Key opinion
Sidney Lumet’s Serpico is widely regarded as a definitive, thought-provoking crime drama that masterfully captures the tension between individual integrity and systemic corruption. Al Pacino’s raw, nuanced performance is universally praised as a career-defining turn that anchors the film’s gritty, realistic exploration of institutional decay.
| Acting | Al Pacino delivers a transcendent and deeply immersive performance that convincingly captures the protagonist's fear, obsession, and moral isolation. | |
| Direction | Sidney Lumet’s direction grounds the film in a gritty, unflinching realism that highlights the suffocating nature of systemic police corruption. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds as a powerful thematic critique of institutional rot, depicting the individual as a Don Quixote-like figure struggling against an invincible and faceless system. | |
| Adaptation | The film’s historical accuracy and character portrayal are debated, with some viewing it as a faithful, inspiring tribute and others criticizing the inclusion of Hollywood tropes or perceived character distortions. | |
| Pacing | The deliberate, measured pacing serves to emphasize the protagonist's psychological decline for some viewers, while others find the narrative flow sluggish or prone to dragging. |