• Release year: 1973
• Director: Sidney Lumet.
• Producer: Martin Bregman.
• Screenplay by: Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler.
• Cinematography by: Arthur J. Ornitz.
• Music by: Mikis Theodorakis.

Shotgun Commentary: the ABCs of why nobody trusts policemen.

Review

Serpico is a police drama that serves to explain why the general public is sceptical of the police forces. Sadly, it is a story that can be applied to most countries nowadays, as there have been cases of abuse and corruption in almost every single police force in the world, if not all. The tricky bit is to determine whether a few bad apples make a whole bad batch or not. This film is sceptical about “isolated corruption incidents”, and so is anyone mildly informed of what goes on in the world. The movie will be screened for free this February 28 as part of its Truth to Power programme. More information after the review.

The feature begins with an incognito policeman being rushed to the hospital. Said policeman, Serpico (Al Pacino), is known amongst the forces for not taking bribes. Refusing to be bought, which is a great and noble idea, comes with a deadly side effect: getting alienated from the forces and losing the trust of your peers. You are probably thinking, “Wait a minute, shouldn’t not taking bribes make him more trustworthy?” And there’s the catch. Sure, in a perfect world, that should be so. But this is New York, and if you dare act like an actual policeman, you’ll get buried pretty quickly.

A great guy with a great problem

This film is to Police Academy (1984) what 2026 is to 2018: the latter might have had their problems, but hell if they don’t feel cosy and safe now. Serpico has not lost any of its relevance. Sure, a few choices are certainly outdated, and some vocabulary is positively rancid. But if you spoon away that layer of mould, you’ll find that the content is as relevant as it gets. In fact, it is a pretty grim discovery, but still, kudos to the movie.

Naturally, this film would not be half as intense as it is without Pacino at the helm. His performance makes the whole story riveting from beginning to end—and it is a longer-than-a-breadless-day-long story. Pacino’s Serpico is the kind of cop you want in your neighbourhood. One that actually cares about doing the right thing and helping the people instead of just dismissing minor infractions and profiting from the major ones. Pacino embeds in his character the same passion he adds to all his roles, making Serpico magnetic. It is no wonder that this performance earned him an Oscar nomination

Like most films of its century, it messes up the second it comes down to adding a female character that has more than three sentences in her dialogue. Why a writer gets blocked when it comes down to writing a female character is something that will forever be a mystery.

*sighing in feminist*

Serpico’s girlfriend—not the situationship that gets married to another, but the official one—is a nurse. Her presentation makes this fact a key part of her personality. She is a nurse who loves her job so much that she is willing to lose boyfriends over it. Yet, after a few months of dating Serpico, she claims in a fit of passion and despair, “All I care about is you!”, followed by a short speech about how her life has no meaning without him. Sure, Serpico is a great cop, but as far as boyfriends go, he is average at best from what you can see, so the biggest mystery of the movie probably is how he managed to change her entire personality after just a few months of dating. But surely you already have an answer to that.

All in all, Serpico is a decent film that brings up a very important issue that is still painfully present. In 2026, a corrupt police force sounds like child’s play compared to ICE and their endless violations of human rights. Nonetheless, it is still nice to convince oneself of the idea that there are still fighters out there, ready to tear down oppressive systems and corrupt forces from the inside. Even if they end up having to flee their countries as a result.

Serpico will be screened for free at the Glasgow Film Theatre on the 28th of February at 10:30 as part of the 2026 Glasgow Film Festival. More information on this screening here!

Advice to take from this movie:

• Not all cops suck, but most do.
• Never expect anything from anyone.
• Being idealistic can get you killed, and it might not even make you sleep any better.

What’s your take? Have you watched Serpico? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀