Movies-TV

I believe Charlie Sheens done this before

If I hadn't seen the biker flik - I would have given this a higher rating. But its five years on, Madsens still in it, and the idea of a cop infiltrating a group of misfits, conditioned to do his duty at the same time as mingle with the criminal element, and then adjust to the new identity, is an age old storyline Yeah there are the greats in the film, yeah the main actors do their best to follow a script based on a true story, yeah there's an element of action and horror that keeps the audience watching to the end. But the portrayed story of this is soooo close to Chasing the Shadow, that I would have thought that anyone trying it again five years down the line would have adapted it accordingly for real originality (if you can make U571 or The Patriot, then anything is possible to make an original storyline appeal to the masses).I do like Pacino and Depp in a lot of productions, but this one has the elements of bringing them together because, well, they had to appeal to the young and older audience to make a blockbuster.Go have a look at the 1992 one with Mr Sheen, its more in line with a true story (it doesn't have sawing people into pieces though), and it works better for me as its got the reality of dealing with two ends of the legal spectrum.

One of the Best

This movie was one of the best Mafia movies I've ever seen. I'm really big into movies like that (Goodfellas, Godfather) and I didn't think it was going to be that good. I was wrong! Al Pacino and Johnny Depp do an exemplory job. I have the DVD version, and its amazing how much Johnny Depp sounds like Joe Pistone. All in all, this movie is definitely worth buying!

SENSATIONAL MOB FLICK...GRIM AND GRITTY...

This griity and grim mob flick, deftly directed by Mike Newell, is based upon the true story of FBI undercover, Joe Pistone, who. as his alter ego "Donnie Brasco", infiltrated the mob for a number of years, resulting in its eventual decimation. So artfully did the real Joe Pistone infiltrate and so well did he do his job, that he and his family were obliged to enter the witness protection program for their safety, as a contract was ultimately put out on Joe Pistone's life.


Here, Johnny Depp, plays the role of Joe Pistone/Donnie Brasco. He is terrific in the role, and the viewer watches him become absorbed by the lifestyle of the mobsters with whom he associates. He is befriended by "Lefty" Ruggierro, artfully played Al Pacino. Shifty and
common, "Lefty" typifies your low level made guy, the guy on the fringes doing the dirty work, a real bottom feeder. He is the guy who does the hits, and he is the guy the higher ups look to whack when something goes wrong. It is not an enviable or glamourous life, as has been made out by other films, such as the "Godfather" and "Goodfellas". The existence of "Lefty" and the legions like him is gritty and grim, always a bridesmaid and never a bride.


"Lefty" takes Brasco under his wing and vouches for him. He shows Brasco the ABCs of becoming a "made" guy. "Lefty" himself wants to move up in the mob hierarchy. It soon becomes painfully obvious that that ain't gonna happen. One cannot help feel a little sorry for "Lefty", so limited is his world view and so at the mercy of others. Still, "Lefty" gives Donnie some invaluable lessons on mob etiquette. He also unburdens himself to Donnie, treating him as if he were his adopted son. The bond between the two men grows. As this happens, Donnie finds himself being pulled more and more into the world of mobsters, until his old and new reality begin to merge.


As he distances himself drom his wife (Anne Heche) and family, Brasco is thrust into a maelstrom of mob violence that threatens to tear him apart and consume him. He tries to get "Lefty" to go straight and retire, in hope of avoiding his betrayal. It is to no avail. Brasco, in for a penny, in for a pound, now stands to become a "made" guy himself. It is only at the eleventh hour that an intervention set up by the FBI plays itself out, setting up the betrayal of "Lefty". It is a sad moment for Brasco, as he knows that "Lefty" has just been handed a death sentence at the hands of the mob for vouching for an FBI agent. It is Brasco's ultimate salvation, however, as he was on the brink of committing an unpardonable act, one in which he would have crossed the line and from which there would have been no turning back. It is a decision that was, luckily for him, taken out of his hands.


Al Pacino gives the defining, superlative performance in this film. Anne Heche is sensational as the put upon, concerned wife, who watches her husband change into someone she can barely recognize. Johnny Depp, likewise, gives a stellar performance as the angst ridden FBI undercover agent. All in all, a terrific film with a stellar cast and well worth having in one's collection.

perfect

This item came ontime and was in perfect condition. Just the way it should be

Al Pacino's Best Movie

Yes, I am going to make the bold claim that this is his best work. "Are you talking about the same Al Pacino that did Scarface, Heat, AND the Godfather movies" you ask. Yes, yes, and let me explain myself. First of all, I want to add that I LOVE Pacino's work. He has such a commanding presence on screen and nobody in cinematic history can scream as well as him (though Gene Hackman is damn good). He can scare the hell out of you with just one crazed look in his eye and he never gives a flat performance (well, except in Revolution).Having said that, I think Pacino is incredible in this flick because his character is so understated. While his work often consists of playing flamboyant, over-the-top, and almost cartoonish figures(especially in Scarface and The Devil's Advocate), this film is a change of pace for him. Sure, he's still playing a mobster, but he's not as psychotic as usual, and for once, you get to see the inner struggles of a crook who deep down has a heart of gold (despite all of the murders). Pacino is perfect as Lefty, an aging crimical who wants out of the mob lifestyle, but doesn't know how to do it. Though you see the fast and fun world of mobsters in flicks like Goodfellas, this film gives you a sense that the mob life isn't that glamorous. Along with Pacino's acting, Johnny Depp is delectable as Joe Pistone (Donnie Brasco) because you can see his inner torment as well. He knows that he's been assigned to infiltrate the New York mob scene, but he develops such a close bond with Lefty that it's almost hard to bring him down. A very real, human relationship permeates between the two that is very moving. I like how the characters are always joking about being a "wise guy," as it provides some light chuckles, and it also shows that in order to live this lifestyle, you've gotta talk tough and act tough (as if I would know what that's like).The supporting cast is particularly noteworthy. Bruno Kirby plays a great weasel, Anne Heche is wonderful as Pistone's neurotic wife (you can understand her suffering, what with being married to an FBI special agent) and Michael Madsen is reliable, once again, as a mobster (honestly, does this guy do anything besides gangster or sci-fi flicks?). Every time I watch this movie I am breathless afterwards. The acting is wonderful, the music is superb, and frankly, I can't believe this stuff actually happened. Then again, I haven't read the book, so I don't know how much of it is true.Overall, this movie gets 10 out of 10. I'm shocked it doesn't get more recognition, especially with such prolific actors as Pacino and Depp leading the way. This is a different kind of mob movie, as it shows a more somber side to this way of life, and I recommend it unequivocally.

Good film, great Pacino & Depp

This film should have stature a little closer to Good Fellas" than I feel it currently enjoys. Mike Newall gets the wise guy tone right and some of this seems a precursor to 'The Sopranos'. This is a great film of true tragedy with great performances by two star actors along with a deep supporting cast. Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, and Anne Hesche along with Paul Giamatti are all teriffic. If you haven't given this a close viewing you should. The DVD has a good post release interview featurette with the real Donnie Brasco along with producers, Director Newall and Johnnie Depp. They're rightly proud of this film being an example of what Hollywood can do best.

One of my favorite movies

This is an all around outstanding film. The script is great, the acting is great. The scenery and costumes all feel very real. It's a violent subject (and not one I normally like for a movie) but the film makes you feel for the characters, especially Donnie Brasco/Joe Pistone. And, even though he's the bad guy and I know he got what he deserved, I couldn't help but feel something for Lefty Guns, too.


The film interested me so much that I bought both the book that it was based on and Joe Pistone's follow up book, "Unfinished Business." I highly recommend both of them. Joe Pistone is a true American hero.

Interesting movie that should have been longer

What I remember most from this film (well, I saw it just yesterday, but...) is the superb performance from Al Pacino as Lefty. And Johnny Depp was also great.The film itself is a very interesting and well-made "gangster" movie, based upon a true story. It is engrossing and I wanted it to be perhaps a half hour longer -- it had a storyline that was so interesting that it could easily have been longer without me getting bored. Usually, I think the movies should be a half hour shorter. So, really good and well-made film by director Mike Newell.

Donnie Brasco - A true mafia masterpiece!

"Donnie Brasco" is a true mafia masterpiece and what is more interesting about it is that it is based on an amazing true story. This is the true story of FBI undercover agent Joseph D. Pistone, who when faced with the task of infiltrating a New York City "family," he not only does that, but he did it with perfection. As you will soon learn with this movie, FBI undercover agent Joseph Pistone infiltrated and stayed within this "family" for six years and if it weren't for his superiors' intervention he would've stayed with them even longer, as he was within months of becoming a "made" wise guy when he was brought out.

"Donnie Brasco" represents a sort of coming out for Johnny Depp in that this was really his first adult dramatic role that didn't portray him as a teenager or something in the Science Fiction range. He truly deserves all of the accolades that he earned for this role. Al Pacino's performance was superior for this movie. In so many movies he's made, he's played pretty much the same guy with a different name, this is not the case with his role in "Donnie Brasco," he truly became the character he was playing. This was an Oscar winning performance on his part, the only missing part was the actual best supporting Oscar. The performances by Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, Anne Heche and all of the other actors in this outstanding film all served beautifully in making this film the true silver screen masterpiece that it is.

It's kind of odd that British director Mike Newell of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" fame would get the directing nod for "Donnie Brasco" but in the end, it worked out perfectly and he deserves a great amount of credit for the "style" and "atmosphere" of this film. The score for "Donnie Brasco" plays perfectly with every scene of the film, serving to enhance the story.

The premise:

FBI undercover agent Joseph D. Pistone is tasked with the mission to infiltrate Lefty Ruggiero's (Al Pacino) mob family. Posing as a jewel broker Donnie Brasco, Agent Pistone does this with apparent ease. He soon learns that this will not be a quick task to complete and his six year run begins, jeopardizing his family, his career and his life as he becomes so intertwined with this crime family and starts to care about his mob "mentor" Lefty, whose life will become forfeit when the truth is revealed.

For any fan of the "mob" movie genre, I highly recommend this film as it gives a perfect look at the mob lifestyle and it easily ranks up there with many of the famous mob movies. This movie will certainly bear multiple viewings. {ssintrepid}

Special Features:

- Director's Commentary
- Exclusive Featurette "Donnie Brasco: Out from the Shadows"
- Original Featurette
- Deleted Scenes with or without commentary
- Isolated Music Score
- Theatrical trailers
- Talent Files
- Production notes

Donnie don't go

I couldn't get enough of this movie. I found out, through my "Outfitt" investagating or mafia as the media called them, that this wasn't the whole story. The movie gives the impression the lefty gets killed that day but that couldn't be further from the true. He was picked up right outside his apartment and taken to jail where he would wait for his friend F.B.I. agent to testify against him. He was found guilty and evenly died in a prison hospital of cancer years later. Sonny Black(Michael Madson) was found a year after the arrest dead with his hands cut off as a sign of disrespect in La Cosa Nostra. Would I put this in my collection Absolutly "YES"

Finally we know what 'fuggedaboudit' means

Donnie Brasco is based on a true story but it is still gripping. Donnie Brasco is the alias of Joe Pistone, an undercover agent. He joins the mob as a help of Lefty played by Al Pacino. Pacino again plays a great mobster. This time as just a spoke, and sometimes not very smart.

But DB gets so involved that he does not know on which side he is, that is what loyalty does to him. Even his marriage is almost falling apart.

Depp and Pacino are of course brilliant as ever and this is another great maffia movie like Goodfellas are the Godfather.

Authentic and Excellent.

This is one of the most underrated movies ever made. I think that Goodfellas and The Godfather trilogy (really, only Parts I and II) set the bar so high for mob movies that Donnie Brasco never received the full adulation it deserved. With Al Pacino, he's been brilliant so often that it's a challenge to explain why he's unique in this role. All I can say is that he IS Lefty even had Lefty never existed before. The unkempt hair, the goofy glasses, the mixture of desperation and violence are exactly what we would expect from a long-time, disaffected mafia enforcer. There's no Hollywood glamour; only grit, grime, and charm. That he so captures our sympathy cannot be taken for granted as I'm not sure another actor could influence us the way Pacino does. As for Depp, he won me over a decade ago with Ed Wood, and his portrayal of Brasco is sensational. If you gave a role like this to DiCaprio, it would be a disaster, yet Depp is infinitely competent. Lastly, Madsen as Sonny Black was a real treat. I went online and took a gander at some of the pictures of the real Sonny, and, of course, there are few physical similarites, but he's a stand out as well. I saw Donnie Brasco yesterday for the second time and found that I could not turn it off. If you asked me how long it was, I'd honestly would not know. Not a great movie? Furgettaboutit.

There is a brighter more comical side

This is an all around great movie it has it's drama side, violent side, and a funny side. Some of the people i showed this movie to fail to see the comedy behind some of the scenes like in the begining in the social club Lefty and Nicky are having an argument which is a better car a lincoln or a cadillac in that scene the comedy behind it is the way they argue. Another scene thats pretty funny is when Donnie and Lefty are rideing in Donnies car pulling a porsche and when lefty tells donnie to pull over and starts taking donnies stereo apart and loses his scewdriver in the stereo. what you have to do is listen to the way they talk to each other its funny. Also the way Nicky is in the movie with the little smart comments its quite funny... to me anyway.but if you listen to the way they talk to each other and watch lefty always ask donnie for money. But all in all Its a great movie. If your a fan of Mafia Type Movies Which i believe It was either Joe Pistone Or Mike newell or Johnny depp says on the special features (which are totally awsome) its dangerous to categorize it as a mafia flick because its not its more of a love story in sick way or somethin like that youll have to watch the special features to find out what im tryin to say also the deleted are funny as can be - anyway ITS A GREAT BUY YOU WONT BE DISSAPOINTED TAKE MY WORD FOR IT AL PACINO AND JOHNNY DEPP ARE GREAT TOGETHER IN THE MOVIE AND ALL OF THE OTHERS ANNE HECHE AND MIKE MADSEN AND BRUNO KIRBY ARE ALL GREAT JUST BUY IT AFTER YOU WATCH IT THE ONLY THING YOU'LL REGRET IS YOU DIDNT BUY IT SOONER.

Excellent movie... and it just got better

I loved this movie when it originally came out. The casting is spot on and this Blu-ray edition shows it off like it was meant to be seen. A definite must have for any fan of Depp, Pacino, and mobster flicks.

Read The Book

After reading the book, I was hyped to see the movie. I was let down by the movie, so many details left out. See the movie, then read the book.

One of Pacino's best performances

Al Pacino's extraordinary talent is beautifully displayed in this movie. A low key, introspective performance with not a single raised voice. His Lefty is exploited and passed over but continues to "soldier" on, observing protocol. The scene on the boat with Mr. Tafficante defines his sad role in the organization. Very effective, and a tribute to the players and director.Some years back I read the book this movie was based on. Although the story was faithfully told, the depth of Pistone's betrayal of his friends (and wife and kids) and his egotism were not adequately portrayed. The affection in which he was held by Sonny (who in reality was killed for his involvement with Donnie/ Joe) was also not illustrated.Small gripes. Every actor contributed a fine effort with honorable mention to Anne Hesche as Donnie/Joe's long-suffering wife.

Pacino Shines

Pacino gives a fully rounded performance as a small fish in a big pool, elevating this largely predictable flick. Johnny Depp is easy on the eyes but no actor, however the screen eats him up in the tradition of other non-actor screen stars from Cybil Shepherd to John Wayne. But the movie itself aside from a few twists, is essentially a tepid remake of "Serpico," another film Pacino's performance alone elevated from mediocrity. The supporting cast of wise guys in "Brasco" pales in comparison with the performances of wise guys in any number of films by Scorsese or Coppola and the cinematography, such as it is, has the look and feel of a Law and Order spin off. The violence is gruesome without being visceral and the writing is nothing special, except for the lines that Pacino makes his own. Parenthetically, Anne Heche, also does a decent job as Johnny's domestic partner (ironically enough, sharing her co-star's real-life "predelections" in the "domestic area").

Not as good as what I've seen!

Though Al Pacino gives a solid performance, I found the film to be blasse. It's plot was slow and teedious. The movie does have its tension filled moments. However, I found this movie to be a poor man's "Goodfellas".

Long, complex and truly fascinating; most things that could go right, do go right.

The film Donnie Brasco turned out to be so much more than I expected it to be. I assumed it would be some sort of gangster, mafia, 'Goodfellas' type film that had a reasonably light atmosphere and that had two good lead actors (Depp and Pacino) delivering a witty script in an amusing manner. In a way I was incorrect to assume this as even though it started off as what I expected it to be, it then slowly and fascinatingly turned into a more complex, emotionally driven character relations story within a gang of criminals. What also surprised me was that this was based on a true story.The film actually started out like I thought it would; it being reasonably light hearted early on with groups of men sitting around in a man's world laughing and joking over nothing in particular as well as containing upbeat music from the era that even I had heard before. This was counteracted with the two lead characters of 'Lefty' Ruggiero (Pacino) and Donnie Brasco himself (Depp) (who is attempting to go undercover and infiltrate this small gang of mafia hoodlums) merely standing around; talking and acting 'hard' for the opening thirty minutes or so attempting to prove a point over one another that they're the dominant character. Interestingly, Brasco stamps his authority in the relationship by, in fact, beating up one of Lefty's accomplices whom owes him money – from then on in, every thing's fine between the two.What's also interesting about the two characters is their respective situations. Both men are struggling with their domestic situations and consequently, their lives are falling away from them slightly. Brasco's job is starting to conflict with his secret domestic life and Lefty's role within the gang slips away from him slowly but surely as the film wares respectively on.What Donnie Brasco actually consists of is a two and a half hour marathon of fantastic character build up through dialogue and interaction as each gang member dips in and out of the two leads' lives. Trust, respect and interaction playing a big part in a lot of it and this is extremely well put through thanks to a memorable scene in the foyer of a Japanese sushi restaurant. The constant fact we know the truth about Brasco and his links to the authorities plays a major part in actual suspense that builds up on certain occasions; be it the said restaurant scene or whenever Brasco seems to be on the phone for too long. Although some scenes do seem like they drag on a little aimlessly and may lack the punch, atmosphere and actual content; other scenes come along at pleasingly paced times and it's these that definitely have the spark required for true edge of the seat viewing. With a good cast, good soundtrack, wonderful story, a truly fantastic character study as well as an ending that left me as empty as it did fulfilled, Donnie Brasco's story is one that everyone should sit through.

A great film that got me thinking...Can it be that easy to infiltrate the Mafia

Just kidding, that aside, i watched this simply because of the fact that it is based on a true story. It's not more of 'a' true story but the most infamous story in American history. I noticed that 'true stories' that are diverted into films always become some of the most epic films ever seen, and sometimes it can be embarassing i.e Ed Wood and Pollock. Donnie Brasco, maybe one of the most famed and celebrated films of the late 90s was also the most brilliantly acted from the entire cast. From extras to supporting roles such as the fantastic Michael Madsen and his rendition of Sonny Black.


The story is fast paced, often changing the relationship between characters and bringing out the actors out of their shells to purly shine. This is not a big review because there's not much to say but that this is truly fine work and one of the most unforgettable and controversial stories in the United States.