Allan Watched "Serpico"
A masterful slow-burn, Serpico is one of the great bio-pics about a public figure, and it includes what is easily a top-five performance of Al Pacino’s career.
Gut Feeling
A movie about the only straight cop in a crooked NYPD feels like an obvious story, yet the way the film unfolds provides plenty of tension to keep you fixated on Pacino and the true story at the center of Serpico. This retelling of the famous NYPD whistleblower Frank Serpico relies heavily on Pacino’s ability to add nuance to a character we have seen many times before: an NYPD police officer navigating the city’s criminals, both inside his department and on the streets. The great Sidney Lumet gets away without a true inciting incident (starting at the end is considered lazy by many, but who am I to say that about the greatest director to never win an Oscar), and the end result is a true classic.
Pacino and Company
Hot take: Al Pacino is kinda good. The one thing I kept thinking as he dominates each and every scene of the film is how even when he delivers a pitch-perfect Pacino yell, Serpico feels different than any of his other characters. He turns a handsome, young Pacino fresh off of The Godfather and presents a real hippie misfit who is as awkward as he is honorable.
Pacino’s performance is enhanced greatly by a cast filled with a “who’s who” of prolific character actors from the 60’s and 70’s. From Allan Rich, to Tony Roberts, to Jack Kehoe, and on and on and on, (even Soprano’s alum and Paulie’s favorite, uh, pecker doctor, Lewis Stadlen shines in his handful of scenes), the cast of thousands (not really) pepper Pacino with different energy and levels of menace he has to bounce off of and battle.
A Strong Start and Finish
A simple opening credit can be really powerful and set the tone for a film. Serpico survives starting at the end and having no true inciting incident partly because the opening sequence, in full, is a masterpiece. Beginning with a simple white font over a black background, calmly presenting who were are about to see against a raging siren is a true tone setter. Unfortunately, in the world of streaming and needing to catch a viewers attention immediately, films (and TV shows) don’t provide the staunch opening credits we have seen in great films like Goodfellas or The French Connection.
Serpico is another great example of a captivating opening credit, that blossoms into a memorable opening ballet. Lumet beautifully dances between a bleeding Serpico and a joyful, unjaded Serpico first joining the NYPD. The film from this moment acts more like real life, a zigging and zagging trajectory that is not simply a rising and falling action, but instead a crescendo of tension caused by a good man sticking to his beliefs despite knowing he will pay the price for it.
Random Thoughts
My first “New to Me” viewing of 2023. My goal this year is to watch as many films that I have never seen. I cheated by starting with a classic I knew I would love.
Pacino has the worst sprinter form I have ever seen in my life. And I have seen me sprint…
I’d pay money to listen to Pacino sing Italian arias poorly.
The late genius Mikis Theodorakis provides a score that vamps beneath the surface for most of the film, but crescendos in the most dramatic moments in a brilliantly effective way.
Ranking the great 60s/70s New York City films is impossible, but this is certainly an entry worth such lists.
By far the worst parts of the film is anything to do with Serpico’s love interests. They are throw away tropes that drag down the film despite Barbara Eda-Young and Cornelia Sharp’s best efforts.
I’m not a doctor, but if someone gets shot in the head, shouldn’t they shave their beard?
Speaking of beards, I get why Serpico is considered one of the great Pacino vibes of all time.
Serpico is responsible for a great Charlie moment in …It’s Always Sunny. You’re welcome.
Quick Hits:
How many times have I seen this movie?
First time!
Where was I watching it?
In my office after work, cleaning my post-holiday inbox.
Favorite trivia about the movie
Judd Hirsch and F. Murray Abraham are uncredited in the film, despite being very apparent in multiple important scenes. What’s a guy gotta do to get a credit?
Favorite part
Nothing more relatable than wanting to return a bad sandwich, even when it is free.
Least favorite part
Any time Pacino has to be physical as a cop. He kind of flails a lot and it takes you out of the scene.
Would I recommend this movie?
Yes, it is embarassing it took me this long to watch it.
So What Does Allan Give It?
One Gold Thumbs Up! In total, a score of 88. Pacino and Lumet are perfect together, and it is right there with Dog Day Afternoon in quality and prestige from this duo.
