Serpico: A bleak time capsule, and still relevant AF

Just finished re-watching Serpico (1973). Man, this one still hits hard. I remember seeing it years ago and thinking it was a product of its time, a cynical 70s cop drama. But honestly, the systemic corruption it portrays feels worryingly contemporary. Pacino is just phenomenal as Frank Serpico, perfectly capturing that idealism slowly being eroded by the realities of the job. The way he shifts from eager rookie to disillusioned outcast is painfully believable. What really gets me is the subtle but constant pressure he faces. It isn't just about refusing bribes (although those scenes, like the one where he's offered a cut of the gambling racket, are incredibly tense). It's the everyday stuff, the complicity of silence, the wink-and-nod culture that protects the dirty cops. Sidney Lumet's direction (yeah, I looked it up *after* I watched cause I'm a genius) is just masterful at building this atmosphere of paranoia and dread. There's this one scene where Serpico is trying to get other cops to back him up, and they just look away, make excuses... it's soul crushing. The ending, of course, is brutal. The whole setup where he's sent into a drug bust knowing he's a marked man... it's hard to watch. Not exactly feel-good cinema, folks, but important stuff. Honestly, it's a bit *too* tidy, I think. The way the Knapp Commission hearings are portrayed, you almost get the sense that things got fixed. But I doubt it. It also felt a bit weird that they didn't really delve into his personal relationships beyond the general "struggles with his hippie girlfriend" trope. Would have added some depth. Anyway, def worth checking out if you haven't seen it. Just be prepared for a gut punch. And maybe a strong drink afterwards. Still makes you wonder how much has *really* changed since then, y'know?