Retroscope:The Bearded Crusader Known As “Serpico”

By Jon Ortiz

Lets just get this out of the way, 1973′s “Serpico” is the greatest cop drama ever made.  There, I said it.  It has nothing to do that with the fact that it is based on a true story, but more to do with its cohesion of all aspects of perfect film making.  A tight script wrought with tension, intrigue, betrayal, and redemption.  Grade A characters played by Grade A talent.  Last but not least, Sidney Lumet’s direction is unparalleled.  It is this strong combination that offers us one of the greatest cop dramas that has managed to influence some of today’s more memorable movies.

I would say Michael Mann’s Heat, Scorsese’s The Departed, and Mike Newel’s Donnie Brasco are probably the best examples of movies that employ similar styles and techniques found in Serpico some 25 to 30 years earlier.  This isn’t a bad thing, all of the aforementioned films are all great in their own way.  However, to say films like Serpico or Willam Friedken’s French Connection weren’t incredibly influential would be grounds to call you insane.  Oddly enough I chose two movies that also feature Al Pacino, who I feel put on arguably the greatest performance of his career in Serpico.

As far as Crime dramas go, Pacino is king.  This guy has been my hero for ages, but it wasn’t until I saw his powerful and emotional performance as undercover cop Frank Serpico, that I realized just how damn amazing he is.  There are scenes in this movie that moved me to the point that I felt Serpico’s frustration, anger, resentment, loss, and fear.   Pacino is one these really rare actors that completely immerses himself in his roles to the point of believability. You can only imagine what it’s like to be a guy like Frank Serpico, the man who essentially created undercover police work. Here is this cool bohemian crusader for justice who happens to stumble upon an enormous corruption ring, and will stop at nothing until justice has been served.  He is the most unlikely hero, which is what makes him so awesome.

Watching this movie, I can’t help but root for Serpico.  When everybody was on the take, Serpico stood up for what was right not many people do that.  Pacino played the character so well, creating this likable, enviable, and down to earth cool cat who was damn near impossible not to love.  You have to admire  a guy so determined to do the right thing that he will sacrafice entire relationships as long as justice is served.  This could be considered a huge character flaw, but for me I can see why he does what he does.  For Serpico it’s all about principle, and when people disregard these things he literally goes insane.

Pacino is a very emotional actor and is able to convey the heartbreak of destroying a relationship , the sweet release of beating the hell out of  a mafioso, and the pain of being alone.  I felt Lumet’s end game was to show us a character that could be both revered and pitied at the same time.  That’s what Serpico was, a bearded crusader.  The hero nobody considered and the man with the balls to do whatever it took.  So Al, wherever you are, I have your statue.  You are my hero.

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©Jon Ortiz 2010