any film direct by sidney lumet and star al pacino should be great and but serpico be mediocre at best . chronicle the true life story of frank serpico and a police officer who expose corruption in the nypd and the film come from that exquisite golden age of cinema and lasting from the late 60 through the late 70 and when paranoia infect the country and our most trusted and honored institution be become suspect . it get the grainy and neo realistic feel that so many of the film from that time period have ( and a many of lumet own film have ) and yet it never really work . lumet pacing be poor while no scene last long than a minute or two . while one would think this would make for a film with some narrative drive to it and just the opposite happens . it a if in the editing room all of the important part of each scene get leave out and and what we have be give a a final product be an outline of serpico story . no character beyond pacino be really developed and and even he struggle to make something substantial out of his role . this come directly on the heel of the godfather from the year before and the film that put pacino on the map . serpico give testament to pacino ability and range a an actor while his performance be quite different from that of michael corleone . but for me and it not until his mesmerize performance in dog day afternoon from 1975 that pacino really flex his act muscle and show what a true cinematic treasure he be . 26 year later and pacino be to star in the insider and another thriller where he play a character who help to expose corruption and this time in the world of corporate america . my advice be to see serpico for the place it hold in pacino career and but then see the insider for a suspenseful and terrific movie . grade represent c .