Serpico
dir. Sidney Lumet · 1973
Plot
Serpico is a cop in the 1960s-early 1970s. Unlike all his colleagues, he refuses a share of the money that the cops routinely extort from local criminals. Nobody wants to work with Serpico, and he's in constant danger of being placed in life threatening positions by his "partners". Nothing seems to get done even when he goes to the highest of authorities. Despite the dangers he finds himself in, he still refuses to 'go with the flow', in the hope that one day, the truth will be known.
Why watch
"Serpico" is a gripping exploration of one man's unwavering commitment to integrity in a world rife with corruption. Sidney Lumet's masterful direction immerses viewers in the gritty reality of 1970s New York, where the pursuit of truth comes at a perilous cost.