SERPICO!

_____

If there is one identifiable aspect of "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" it is that there are no rules governing when a movie was made or who stars in it. The ultimate goal is keeping it FUN. I chose this year's selection based on whether the works are solid, varied and consistently hold up well even to today's standards. The continuity of Al Pacino's work has withstood being called "over-acted" ("Scent of A Woman") and worse. In every instance they were Pacino-esque. You either like Pacino or you don't. It's that simple. From "Richard III" to "Insomnia", this is a very dedicated and interesting actor whose character study is intense. In this movie, based on author Peter Maas's book we come face-to-face with the true-life story of Frank Serpico, an undercover policeman who bravely exposed corruption in the New York City Police Department. When the film was released, it was hailed for Serpico's nonconformism, albeit, rooted in honesty. I once saw the real-life Frank Serpico interviewed long after he retired from the force and moved to Europe, then hitchhiked across Greenland after selling his household possessions and asking everyone who picked up this unknown hitchhiker, "What is the meaning of life for you?" Eventually, he told his interviewer, after a year of listening to thousands of answers, his own conclusion is that we are here on earth simply to love one another. Quite an archetypal journey! The Cast: Al Pacino, John Randolph, Jack Kehoe, Barbara Eda-Young, Cornelia Sharpe, F. Murray Abraham, Tony Roberts; Director: Sidney Lumet. Producer: Dino De Laurentis. AWARDS: Golden Globes (1974): Best Actor--Drama Al Pacino; National Board of Review, (1973): Actor Al Pacino; Writers Guild (1973): Best Adaptation to Screenplay. Our first Sidney Lumet film of 2007! If you like suspense, I hope you'll sit back, get comfortable and enjoy this one!

____

My Best!

Michael