Frank Serpico is an idealistic New York City cop who refuses to take bribes, unlike the rest of the force. His actions get Frank shunned by the other officers, and often placed in dangerous situations by his partners. When his superiors ignore Frank's accusations of corruption, he decides to go public with the allegations. Although this causes the Knapp Commission to investigate his claims, Frank has also placed a target on himself.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 8 wins & 13 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
Lumet's biopic of Frank Serpico, the virtuous cop who exposed a network of graft in the NYPD, feels depressingly relevant.
– Benjamin Strong,
Village Voice,
3 Aug 2004
rotten:
Another problem, these days, is Pacino's characterisation; he seems at times more like a misplaced hippy than a plainclothes cop.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
24 Jun 2006
fresh:
A virtuoso performance by Al Pacino and some expert location work by Sidney Lumet add up to a tour de force genre piece that transcends the supercop conventions to create a moving, engrossing portrait of Frank Serpico.
– Don Druker,
Chicago Reader,
1 Mar 2007
fresh:
Sidney Lumet's direction adeptly combines gritty action and thought-provoking comment.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
9 Apr 2008
rotten:
Wonderful potential, and wasted. Serpico has some brutal surface flash and an acetylene performance by Al Pacino in the title role, but its energy is used to dodge all the questions it should have raised and answered.