Donnie Brasco | | Cast : | Al Pacino, Johnny Depp | | Director : | Mike Newell | | Studio : | Columbia/Tristar Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | February 28, 1997 | | DVD Released Date : | May 04, 2004 | | Language : | Spanish (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 09, 2005 | | Summary | Penetrating mobster movie! | Content
 | An unfiltered FBI agent gets penetrate the dangerous web of a criminal organization. Based on real facts in 1978, he is godfathered by Al, a looser into the hoodlum pyramid. Against the odds, Al risks himself and Donnie ascends at impressive rhythm when he acquires an original feature before Sonny Black. Meanwhile his marriage sinks due the brutal emotional tension, he swims between two waters and the nerves progressively transform his kind character becoming him another member of the bunch.
Interesting proposal, I think this was the film who revealed Johnny Depp as a solid actor, far beyond his previous works, this was a difficult performance with many inflexions and dramatic changes, but his countenance and talent made the rest. Pacino and Madsen are terrific too in this bloody thriller of betray and greed.
Good point for Mike Newell behind the camera.
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| Rating | | | Date | July 26, 2005 | | Summary | Good movie (if you haven't read the book) | Content
| I'm going to be upfront here. A lot of the reviews on this page paint the movie in a positive light, and deservedly so. If you haven't read the book, then this movie is quite good. There's a decent plot, and the producers have stuck to the original story to some extent. Al Pacino & Johnny Depp both shine in their respective roles.
Where I distinguish my review is on the basis of me having read the book. I do agree that my qualms with the movie are probably a common issue, where viewers are disappointed with the extent to which the movie does not represent the book. However, one has to remind oneself that this is a true story, and I felt a few things were lacking in the movie (warning plot spoilers may be ahead).
- When I first saw the movie (without reading the book i.e, I saw the movie twice), it gave me the impression that it wasn't that difficult after all for Donnie to break into the mould and forge a friendship with Lefty. In fact, a similar view has been expressed by another reviewer. The reality is totally different. It took months and months if not a year, for Donny to be trusted by different street guys, and finally gaining enough respect and a reputation in order to break the ice with Lefty.
- Most painful, Joe Pistone was never conflicted in his role as Donnie Brasco. I wish Hollywood didn't add this element in for drama purposes. For those who've seen the movie, it's evident that towards the end, Joe expresses mixed feelings towards his role as an FBI agent and almost seems reluctant to leave the Mafia and return to his normal life.
- In real life, Joseph D. Pistone didn't change his values, attitudes and focus throughout his six year 'tenure' with the mafia. He was proud of what he achieved, and proud of being an FBI agent. True, he felt some remorse for decieving Lefty, but Pistone expressed the view that he was doing his job, just as Lefty and Sonny were doing theirs.
- Last but not least, I felt the movie was a bit too rushed in certain aspects. An example would be the first comment made about the misleading impression that Donnie broke into the Mafia quite quickly. On deeper introspection, it seems there could have been greater character development with regards to Lefty and Sonny.
Still, this is a well-directed and interesting movie, if quite misleading in quite a few aspects. I must say, those who are not familiar with mafia jargon and street talk will find it quite hard to follow! To sum up; A lot more could have been acheived with such a great book. Therefore, it's a solid movie, but not up there with the classics. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 11, 2005 | | Summary | great depiction of the mid-levels of organized crime | Content
| Under organized crime, the weak suffered while the corrupt prospered - but in "Donnie Brasco" we see another group entirely: the middle-group of middling gangsters utterly demoralized by the crushing pressures of the other two. Joe Pistone (Depp) infiltrates local mafia under the name Donnie Brasco. His lead to organized crime is an aging and fading enforcer named Ben "Lefty" Ruggiero played by Pacino. Ruggiero is an odd choice for Pistone, because the feeble killer is himself one step away from being "whacked" by his boss, Sonny Black (Madsen). Black's crew is decidedly small-time, but ambitious, and Pistone/Brasco thinks it's the perfect vehicle with which to launch his infiltration of organized crime. Thus, the story links Brasco's assimilation into the mafia with Black's ambitions to rise in the ranks of gangsters. Entering Black's circle with help from Lefty, Pistone/Brasco allows he older gangster to become his mentor, even as Lefty is obviously on his way out. In fact, Pistone so gamely hunts the Mafia that he becomes less concerned with his own safety than the successes of Black's crew. "Brasco" the movie is actually a stand-out movie - complimenting "Goodfellas" in its depiction of middle-level criminals who hold themselves as lords of their own domain but are otherwise ants below the real bosses. Pacino is great as a man who's sure he's facing the end, but is still willing to hold the umbrella for higher bosses. But Madsen is also great as Black - also conscious of his low position, but clearly looking for meatier game. Lastly, Depp proves there's still little that he can't handle, as the understated Brasco - his high-point scene: explaining "fughedaboudit" in all its many permutations to fellow agents. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 09, 2005 | | Summary | MOBSTER MORALITY | Content
| Well, the acting is great but the acting in the film is not what I intend to write on.
With Donnie Brasco we have one more film attempting to paint mobsters as moral and honorable. The primary mobster in this film is named Lefty who is played by Al Pacino. Lefty is a man who by his admission has murdered 26 men. Despite this fact Pacino and director Mike Newell go to great length attempting to demonstrate Lefty's honorable character.
In the Special Edition DVD of this film Newell provides a commentary. One of the things he speaks about is how the film is a tragedy because it show Donnie Brasco's moral center being corrupted by associating with the mosters he is assigned to bring down. I believe, however, that the true tragedy is the lengths that films such as this one and many others go to attempt to portray members of organized crime who have no problems with taking human life as decent and even normal individuals. Could that not be a tragedy worth a film of its own?
To further support the fact which I am attempting to exress Newell admits or even brags on the commentary that while filming Donnie Brasco they had a mobster on staff. Although I find this shocking I do not find it as shocking as the fact that Newell has appears to have no ethical problem with this.
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| Rating | | | Date | July 08, 2005 | | Summary | A great film that got me thinking...Can it be that easy to infiltrate the Mafia | Content
| 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. |
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