Donnie Brasco is an unusual gangster film. It is directed by Brit Mike Newell whose filmography is as diverse as his fellow countryman, Stephen Frears.
Based on true facts. Johnny Depp plays Joseph Pistone a cop who has gone deep cover to infiltrate the mob.
Going under the name Donnie Brasco. He has befriended fading hitman Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino.) He has done 26 hits but gets constantly passed over for promotion and he and his comrades have to make money by robbing parking meters.
Lefty becomes a mentor for Donnie and vouches for him to his boss Sonny Black (Michael Madsen.) Who in turn is answerable to his boss who is in prison.
Pistone is in so deep, he soon begins to assimilate the mannerisms of gangster life which he has infiltrated for two years. This has not gone unnoticed on his police bosses and especially his wife and family, who he sees irregularly.
Donnie Brasco is a character piece of the lower end of gangster life. Those that do not rise too far from the Mean Streets.
Lefty has a dream of sailing away in a boat and leaving his life behind. He just cannot afford to. Donnie seems to have had a genuine bond with Lefty.
For Pacino, this is a chance to be subtle rather than chew the scenery. Depp is at his best with Pacino but the scenes with his family tend to be a weakness.
Overall despite some sudden scenes of violence. It lacks that touch of a Coppola or Scorsese or DePalma that stops the movie from being an epic.
Based on true facts. Johnny Depp plays Joseph Pistone a cop who has gone deep cover to infiltrate the mob.
Going under the name Donnie Brasco. He has befriended fading hitman Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino.) He has done 26 hits but gets constantly passed over for promotion and he and his comrades have to make money by robbing parking meters.
Lefty becomes a mentor for Donnie and vouches for him to his boss Sonny Black (Michael Madsen.) Who in turn is answerable to his boss who is in prison.
Pistone is in so deep, he soon begins to assimilate the mannerisms of gangster life which he has infiltrated for two years. This has not gone unnoticed on his police bosses and especially his wife and family, who he sees irregularly.
Donnie Brasco is a character piece of the lower end of gangster life. Those that do not rise too far from the Mean Streets.
Lefty has a dream of sailing away in a boat and leaving his life behind. He just cannot afford to. Donnie seems to have had a genuine bond with Lefty.
For Pacino, this is a chance to be subtle rather than chew the scenery. Depp is at his best with Pacino but the scenes with his family tend to be a weakness.
Overall despite some sudden scenes of violence. It lacks that touch of a Coppola or Scorsese or DePalma that stops the movie from being an epic.