Donnie Brasco (1997)

DONNIE BRASCO (1997)

Starring: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen, Anne Heche, Bruno Kirby; Directed by Mike Newell; Based on the book ``Donnie Brasco, My Undercover Life in the Mafia'' by Joseph Pistone and Richard Woodley.

Rated R
(violence, Gore, profanity, vulgarity, nudity, sex, racial epithets)











Nothing kicks ass like watching good old mob movie. I rejoiced discovering this at a pirate DVD shop alongside Damansara Uptown =P Based on a true story, this tells the story of an FBI undercover agent Joseph Pistone (played by Captain Jack Sparrow/Johnny Depp), under alias Donnie Brasco in attempt to infiltrate the operations of Bonano crime family befriended "Lefty" Benjamin Rugierro(Al Pacino), an experienced but a low-level mobster who is a chronic gambler and disilusioned with the family constantly bypassing him for promotion to higher ranking positions. After the head of the mob Carlina Galente was executed, Dominic Napolitiano (Michael Madsen) took over the top post much to Lefty's chagrin (not to mention frustration). Lefty nurtures Donnie as a sort of his protege, and moulded him in various ways eg: always roll your banknotes, not keeping them in wallet, mobs don't wear jeans, "a friend of mine" refers to a connected guy and "a friend of ours" refers to a made man.


This film is different from Scorsese mob movies which is epic and broadly cinematic like a modern version of Greek mythology. Donnie Brasco doesn't start with blood and guts but in a quiet cafe where Lefty first got to knew the undercover agent Pistone. Lefty got to know Donnie as a jeweller then offered to sell a diamond ring for 8k which Donnie brushes it off as fake. Long chat and arguments later, they decided to visit the conman who sold Lefty the ring and run off towing his Porsche (lol).


Al Pacino is in his element as usual, displaying vulnerable and human side of a mobster. In the movie, he doesn't really look threatening enough to know he will slit your throat when you turn your back. Although not as outstanding as his performances in "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Serpico" he impresses nonetheless. Johnny Depp is so much better than his typecast as a goofy pirate, playing an agent who juggles between an already collapsed marriage and affection for his "mentor" whom he is supposed to betray.

While Scorsese movies depicts great rise and fall of mobsters, this movie would move you to the end on touching poignancy. This is a great movie to watch, though beware there is an extremely gut-wrenching scene in the film. Why does mobsters always use the phrase "Fuggetdabouit"? Watch out for Lefty's dialogue in a pub which explains it.