Serpico (1973, U.S.A./Italy)

Serpico portrays the real-life struggle of an honest New York City cop against a corrupt system.  Officer Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) is appalled by the extent of police corruption, and goes to his superiors.  However, they ignore his charges.  So he takes the dangerous step of going public with his expose.  Serpico’s revelations trigger an independent investigation by the Knapp Commission.  He becomes a marked man, which permanently changes his life.

Shot on location with an emphasis on documentary-style realism, Serpico presents a city in decay both literally and morally.  Everybody is on the take, and the cops and criminals are almost interchangeable. Released in late 1973, after months of revelations in the breaking Watergate scandal, Serpico’s true story touched a cultural nerve.  The film became a hit with both critics and audiences, particularly for Pacino’s complex performance as the honest, long-haired whistle-blower.

Directed by Sidney Lumet, who also directed Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon.