Serpico [VHS]
Tony Manero (John Travolta) inSaturday Night Feverand Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) inBoogie Nightshave one major thing in common: They both have posters of Al Pacino as Serpico on their bedroom walls. As the real-life NYPD detective whose integrity cost him virtually everything (and almost cost him his life), Pacino became one of the icons of gritty, realistic 1970s filmmaking. Released in 1973, between the first twoGodfathermovies, this is the true story of Frank Serpico, a long-haired, idealistic, iconoclastic cop who reluctantly goes undercover to investigate dirty colleagues who are on the take. This is one of the definitive Pacino performances, along with his role as Michael Corleone in theGodfathersaga, and Sonny the bungling bank robber inDog Day Afternoon(which reunited him with his Serpico director, Sidney Lumet)--and Pacino was nominated for a best actor Oscar for all of them (although he wouldn't actually win until 1992'sScent of a Woman).--Jim Emerson