A much acclaimed movie by the director who had directed the 12 Angry Men and Dog Day Afternoon amongst many others. Based on a real life incident, the movie stars Al Pacino as the idealistic Franc Serpico alias Paco. The movie faithfully records his angst, frustration and final disillusionment with the corruption within the American Police Department. What leaves me cold is Serpico's naivete and refusal to see the big picture. Forget a Police Department, wherever you go, if there is widespread corruption, it would be prudent to assume that it could not have possibly grown to such proportions without the support or indifference of the higher-ups. Point 2, if you want to change a system from within, to expect to do that without encountering any enemity is too far-fetched. Thirdly, when you are in the system and want to go to outsiders especially the media to wash dirty linen within - no senior is going to take too kindly to that. This is true anywhere - be it Politics, the Corporate world, the Movie industry or anywhere. And lastly, after being warned openly about the possiblity of mortal danger, to register shock at being shot in the face - is simply lack of reality orientation!
Franc's idealism though initially appealing, the naivete and dogged angst after 5 years in the system is frustrating, not just to his girlfriend but as an audience to me as well. If he was anyway planning to give up on the system and move to Switzerland he could have done that without getting shot in the face!
Anyways, Al Pacino as usual turns in a brilliant performance - so it wasnt after all a complete waste of time. And may be, me being a cynic couldnt relate much to the character. Somebody else might find Franco highly endearing..So not completely a bummer..
My Rating : 4/10
1 comment:
I don't think that Frank was overly idealistic. He was just not corrupt and did not want to get into the cycle of corruption. That is why he waits as long as he actually does to blow the whistle. And he does not fight to change the systen till the time he gets the force from the system to change himself. I think that struggle forces him to turn everyone in his department in.
The movie raises some bigger questions though (which you being an Indian should definitely appreciate):
1) How systemized can corruption actually get!!! It was amazing to see how everyone from retired officials to the top was involved.
2) How fast can the system actually change!! Its surprising that the entire system has gone from being a very corrupt one to a reasonably efficient one.
Finally, I don't think he always planned to move to Switzerland. After he got shot and made loads of money by selling his story, he decided that he had to move out of country anyways if he wanted to survive. What better than Swiss Land,
I found the movie good from a technical point of view but was pretty boring. Did not find it gripping at all.
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