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Over 50 years ago, Sidney Lumet released "Serpico," a powerful indictment of NYPD police corruption that was based on a true story. Decades later, New York's "boys in blue" are still being consistently called out for corruption, but at the time of the film's release in 1973, "Serpico" felt like it might just cause a sea change in the way America — or at least Hollywood — saw its law enforcement systems. "Sidney Lumet's 'Serpico,' the first in what threatens to be an avalanche of movies about policemen, picks up the old cop film and brings it with lights flashing and sirens blaring into the middle of the Watergate era," Vincent Canby wrote in his original review for the New York Times.

"Serpico" may not have ended up changing the world, but the movie based on the book of the same name by Peter Maas was a box office and critical hit,...

The movies of Al Pacino have undeniably left a major impression on cinema as a whole, as he gained a reputation as a titan of the New Hollywood era. From his early success in Francis Ford Coppolas The Godfather right up to recent works with acclaimed directors like Martin Scorsese, even just the name Pacino has become synonymous with incredible acting as hes remained an essential figure in Hollywood over the past five decades. With a constantly evolving style thats become more bombastic and outrageous over the years, Pacino has pushed the boundaries of cinema into new and exciting territory.

The films that have defined this legendary actor's career also included some of Pacinos best movies, as his method acting style and intense commitment to his roles led to some transcendent performances. From gritty crime dramas like Scarface and Dog Day Afternoon to the introspective, art-driven directing work like Chinese Coffee,...

Source: FilmShaft - Al Pacino To Be Honoured At This Year’s Venice Film Festival

Al Pacino will be awarded the Jaeger-Le Coultre Glory to the Filmmaker 2011 award at this year’s Venice International Film Festival. The award celebrates artists who have “left an original mark on contemporary cinema”, and was originally created in collaboration between Le-Coultre and Venice organisers Biennale di Venezia.

Festival director Marco Mueller describes Pacino as “an amazing director, whose presence is precious and original, and who enriches the world of contemporary cinema”. The award ceremony is planned to precede the world premiere of Pacino’s latest directorial effort, Wild Salome, on the 4th of September. With the film, Pacino uses “documentary, fiction and improvisation” to unravel and re-interpret the “scintillating tale of lust, greed and one woman’s scorn” of Oscar Wilde’s once-banned play Salome. Pacino features both as himself and King Herod, alongside...

Al Pacino is heading back to Broadway for a new production of his hit New York play "The Merchant of Venice". The actor has dazzled star-studded crowds this summer at Central Park's Delacorte Theater in Manhattan, where he played villain Shylock in the William Shakespeare play, and bosses at The Public Theater are so impressed by his eight-week run, which ends on Sunday, August 1, they have struck a deal with Pacino to relocate the show this autumn.

Pacino will reprise his role on October 19 for a limited run at the Broadhurst Theater. No further casting announcements were made as WENN went to press. Pacino previously played Shylock in a 2004 film adaptation of "The Merchant of Venice".

On Broadway, he has won Tony Awards for his performances in "Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?" and "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel". He also appeared in "Camino Real", "Richard III", "American Buffalo...

Al Pacino is heading back to Broadway - for a new production of his hit New York play The Merchant Of Venice.

The actor has dazzled star-studded crowds this summer at Central Park's Delacorte Theater in Manhattan, where he played villain Shylock in the William Shakespeare play, and bosses at The Public Theater are so impressed by his eight-week run, which ends on Sunday, they have struck a deal with Pacino to relocate the show this autumn.

Pacino will reprise his role on 19 October for a limited run at the Broadhurst Theatre.

No further casting announcements were made as WENN went to press.

Pacino previously played Shylock in a 2004 film adaptation of The Merchant of Venice.

On Broadway, he has won Tony Awards for his performances in Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? and The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel. He also appeared in Camino Real, Richard III, American Buffalo, Chinese Coffee, two productions of Salome and Hughie, which he also directed.

Al Pacino is to play euthanasia activist Dr. Jack Kevorkian in a star-studded new TV movie. The movie star will team up with Susan Sarandon, John Goodman and Danny Huston in Barry Levinson's "You Don't Know Jack".

Kevorkian was dubbed Dr. Death when he stunned the world with his "Mercy Machine" in the early 1990s, and performed his first assisted suicide. As a doctor, he also builds controversy with his epic legal battles defending a patient's right to die.

Professionally, Al Pacino made his movie debut in 1969 film "Me, Natalie." He went to appear in some movies such as "The Godfather", "The Merchant of Venice" and "Ocean's Thirteen". Beside playing in front of the camera, he is also involved behind the lens. His directorial credits include "Looking for Richard", "Chinese Coffee" and "Salomaybe?".

Al Pacino will open Rome's third International Film Festival today with his independent flick Chinese Coffee. The Hollywood actor will also be given a Marcus Aurelius award for career achievement and pick up another one on behalf of the New York Actors Studio, reports Ansa. A third gong will be handed to 1950s star Gina Lollobrigida. The festival, which runs until October 31, has shifted its emphasis this year to promote more home-grown talent. ''I don't want to cancel the cultural initiatives of the past (more)...

NEW YORK -- Al Pacino, who co-starred with Robert De Niro in Heat, will lend his support to this year's Tribeca Film Festival, founded by De Niro with his partner Jane Rosenthal. On May 8, Pacino will host "An Evening of Chinese Coffee and Conversation With Al Pacino," which will feature a special screening of the actor's directing effort Chinese Coffee and a discussion of the film, Pacino's career and his ongoing artistic interests. Pacino will additionally host another event as part of the TFF's Family Festival: On May 10, local high school students who are aspiring actors will gather with Pacino to view his Looking for Richard and participate in a discussion with the star. The TFF also said this week that rap mogul Damon Dash's latest directing effort, Death of a Dynasty, will make its world premiere May 7. A satirical feature about the world of hip-hop, Death stars Dash and his offscreen partner in Roc-a-Fella Records, rapper Jay-Z, along with Rashida Jones and Devon Aoki and cameos by Chloe Sevigny, Jamie Lynn-Sigler, Lorraine Bracco, Carson Daly, Denise Rich, Walt Frazier, Ed Lover, Dr. Dre, Flavor Flav, Peter Sarsgaard and Run-D.M.C.'s Daryl McDaniels and the late Jam Master Jay. The TFF runs May 3-11.