Serpico, 1973

Unlike many movies about police officers, there aren't any big shootouts in Serpico. It's strictly a drama. To some it might seem slow, but a lack of action doesn't necessarily make a dull film. Al Pacino's acting makes the film worth seeing all by itself. After a few minutes, I almost forgot it was him under that beard and shaggy hair. The rest of the cast was also good, and everyone looked amazingly authentic. The cops really seemed like cops, and the thugs like thugs, unlike some films where the cops look like movie stars. Serpico is a great cop drama with an unparalleled level of realism. While it was clearly filmed in the 70s, the hair and clothes give it away in a heart beat, the story itself still rings true. Corruption then is no different than corruption now. The interactions between the characters is still completely believable. The frustration that Serpico feels is still something the audience can grasp and understand. The DVD can be found in Wal-Mart's bargain bin, and I'd say it's well worth the $5 they're asking for it. The next time I see it, I'll be picking it up. The presentation was pretty standard for an older movie. The audio, while mixed in 6 channels, was focused in the center channel. The dialogue was clear with a few exceptions, most notably when Pacino went on his famous screaming runs. The video was very drab, which I assume was an artistic decision by the director. Detail levels could be better, but the transfer didn't show any signs of compression errors. A small amount of edge enhancement was noticeable. Serpico isn't Pacino's best role, and it's not Sidney Lumet's best picture. But, it's a solid effort that's worthy of at least a rental by every fan of cop movies or of Pacino.

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