Donnie Brasco (Extended Cut)
This edition of the film includes an additional 20 minutes not seen in the original theatrical release.
Posing as hardboiled jewel broker Donnie Brasco, FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone (Johnny Depp) gains entry into the brutal mob family of fading hit man Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino), who treats Donnie like a son. As their association deepens, Pistone's life begins to spiral downward, placing everything that's meaningful to him - his marriage, his career and his life - in jeopardy. From acclaimed director Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) and with a spectacular supporting cast, including Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, James Russo, and Anne Heche, Donnie Brasco is "a first-class Mafia thriller!" (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle).
Member Reviews
One of the Best of the Genre - TheDandyist
A good actor is one who we forget is on the screen seeing the character rather than the performer. Johnny Depp seems to achieve this often in his career and once again we are treated to an outstanding performance in Donnie Brasco. Depp plays FBI Agent Joe Pistone who goes undercover to infiltrate a New York Mafia family. Hollywood has been there done that with this subject matter many times over but this film has a feel that is different than most of those over the top productions. Joe Pistone becomes his alter ego Donnie Brasco, blurring the line between his job and reality.
This is an intricate character study, not a film full of flying bullets and cheesy bravado. Depp and Al Pacino both give Oscar worthy efforts as you see the fondness develop between their characters over the course of the story making the inevitable ending that much tougher for Pistone to deal with.You have to read the book! - Cricri7
I had read the book many, many years ago and, like you would expect, the book is many times better than the movie. The movie has taken certain liberties with the real story so if the story interests you, the book will tell it to you.
It is a story that even the best screenwriter could not have made up. A FBI agent infiltrates the mafia and, if he had lasted a bit longer, he would have become a "made" man. This FBI agent, Joseph Pistone, did not want the investigation to end because he wanted to go even deeper in the mafia.
Al Pacino has not made great choices in the last years and I consider this movie one of his last great roles. He does not overdo it, like he has a tendency to do sometimes, and he interprets the part of a "made" man, but not a very good one. You can sense his inadequacies and all without having him say a word. It really is one of his great roles. Johnny Depp does a great job also, but the best part of this movie are the supporting actors. Bruce Kirby, who left us too soon, does an excellent as he always did.Underbelly of the wise guys - AvidOscarBee
Al Pacino and Johnny Depp deliver in this graphically violent inside view of the mob.
An undercover FBI agent, Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp) poses as a diamond broker, Donnie Brasco, who gains entry into the horrifically violent mob family of the aging hitman, Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino). Over a 6 year period, he tries to infultrate them in order to bring them down, well knowing the risks to his family and himself are in deep jeopardy if he is found out.
The relationship that develops between Donnie and Lefty is one like a father and son relationship. But Donnie starts to change and soon finds himself becoming brutally violent and deadline just like the men he is trying to flush out. There are a number of scenes in this movie that are so graphically violent that I had to turn away and just listen. This movie is not for the squimish.
This movie makes the goodfellas look like sesame street. Wonderful performances given by the leads but the underbelly of the wise guys is not my cup of tea.
Member Reviews
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One of the Best of the Genre - TheDandyist
A good actor is one who we forget is on the screen seeing the character rather than the performer. Johnny Depp seems to achieve this often in his career and once again we are treated to an outstanding performance in Donnie Brasco. Depp plays FBI Agent Joe ...You have to read the book! - Cricri7
I had read the book many, many years ago and, like you would expect, the book is many times better than the movie. The movie has taken certain liberties with the real story so if the story interests you, the book will tell it to you.
It is a story ...Underbelly of the wise guys - AvidOscarBee
Al Pacino and Johnny Depp deliver in this graphically violent inside view of the mob.
An undercover FBI agent, Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp) poses as a diamond broker, Donnie Brasco, who gains entry into the horrifically violent mob family of the aging ...