Film makers almost always depict informers negatively. "On the Waterfront" may be the only other exception to this tradition. Like Brando's Terry Malloy, Al Pacino's Serpico isn't all that sympathetic a character (for very different reasons), but in both cases the actors' performances win you over.
"Serpico" presents two types of cops. The first is affable, reasonably competent, but corrupt. The other is a loner, dedicated to the point of obsession, and squeaky clean. The first type consists of every New York cop save one, namely the second type, Frank Serpico. Although effective dramatically, this is hardly the way it was, or is. The majority of cops are not grafters or worse, and there's more than one cop with Serpico's zeal and idealism.
For another view of the NYPD I recommend Brian McDonald's "My Father's Gun," the story of three generations of New York cops. You'll find there was another cop on the force who sang even louder than Serpico to the Knapp Commission, and the reason why his book wasn't made into a movie.
"Serpico" presents two types of cops. The first is affable, reasonably competent, but corrupt. The other is a loner, dedicated to the point of obsession, and squeaky clean. The first type consists of every New York cop save one, namely the second type, Frank Serpico. Although effective dramatically, this is hardly the way it was, or is. The majority of cops are not grafters or worse, and there's more than one cop with Serpico's zeal and idealism.
For another view of the NYPD I recommend Brian McDonald's "My Father's Gun," the story of three generations of New York cops. You'll find there was another cop on the force who sang even louder than Serpico to the Knapp Commission, and the reason why his book wasn't made into a movie.