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1997
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DONNIE
BRASCO
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STARRING:JOHNNY
DEPP,AL PACINO,MICHAEL MADSEN,BRUNO KIRBY, JAMES RUSSO,ANNE
HECHE,ZELKO IVANEK,ROBERT MIANO
BASED
ON THE BOOK "DONNIE BRASCO:MY UNDERCOVER LIFE IN THE MAFIA"
BY JOSEPH D.PISTONE AND RICHARD WOODLEY
SCREENPLAY
BY PAUL ATTANASIO
PRODUCED
BY LOUIS DIGIAIMO,MARK JOHNSON,BARRY
LEVINSON & GAIL MUTRUX
RATED:AUSTRALIA:MA/UK:18/USA:R
RUNNING
TIME:126 MIN
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Based
on true events, Donnie Brasco is the story of FBI Agent Joseph
Pistone (Johnny Depp) who poses deep undercover in the mafia underworld
as jewel thief Donnie Brasco. Striking up a relationship with loser
wise guy Robert "Lefty" Ruggiero (Al Pacino), Pistone manages
to infiltrate the mob collecting evidence on Lefty and his gang headed
by Sonny Black (Michael Madsen). However when Pistone starts to become
seduced with the Mafia life style, his job, marriage, and ultimately
his life are all placed on the line.
Johnny Depp is in fine form proving that he does not have to be 'quirky'
to be effective on screen. The viewer sympathizes with the struggle
his character goes through as his duel identities begin to clash under
the strain towards his commitment (or lack of) to his family at home,
his job with the FBI and his loyalty to his new family and mentor
Lefty, played by Al Pacino who portrays the low level gangster/mentor
with equal doses of sympathy, quite intensity, and perfect comedic
timing. Playing the mentor (something of a specialty to Pacino) Lefty
lays down the ground rules to Donnie/Joseph throughout the movie;
a wise guy never pays for drinks; a wise guy is always right even
if he's wrong; wise guy never carries a wallet-keep your money in
a role, etc. Donnie/Joseph is very eager to learn as he begins to
develop a close friendship with Lefty which leaves him with mixed
feelings. Both Depp and Pacino play off each other very well, trading
mafia slang like they have done it a million times. Their chemistry
is electric as they both bring out the best in each other with both
actors giving superb performances thanks to Paul Attanasio's excellent
and witty screenplay.
Anne Heche is very impressive as Donnie/Joseph's struggling wife making
the most of her limited screen time, while Mike Newels - who although
looking at his past resume may have seemed like an odd choice of director-
proved to be the best choice for the job. An extremely underrated
movie, highly recommended. |
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