Al Pacino's classic portrayal of Frank Serpico established him as one of today's most versatile actors. SERPICO was based on the true story of a New York policeman who discovers that honesty is not expected to be part of his job. He endues scorn and mistreatment from his fellow cops while attempting to perform his job with integrity. They character of Serpico, combining the best elements of the Establishment and counter-culture, is a tour-de-force for Pacino. The film is a breathtaking suspense story and a fascinating character study as well as a memorable statement about government's inherent flaws.