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Donnie Brasco (1997)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
28 February 1997 (USA)
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Tagline:
Donnie Brasco. Based On A True Story. more
Plot:
An FBI undercover agent infilitrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the mafia life to the expense of his regular one. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Mafia
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FBI
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Undercover
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New York City
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Marriage
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 2 wins
&
8 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(49 articles)
Alan Greenspan Joins Cork Media Panel
(From IFTN. 4 November 2009, 11:26 PM, PST)
International Trailer: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
(From HeyUGuys. 3 November 2009, 2:44 AM, PST)
(From IFTN. 4 November 2009, 11:26 PM, PST)
International Trailer: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
(From HeyUGuys. 3 November 2009, 2:44 AM, PST)
User Comments:
A good gangster film with strong emotional under currents
more (179 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) more
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for some strong graphic violence, pervasive strong language and brief nudity and sexuality.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
127 min | 147 min (extended cut)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:R (certificate #34334) |
Norway:15 (DVD rating) |
Iceland:16 |
Singapore:M18 |
South Korea:15 |
New Zealand:R16 |
Argentina:16 |
Australia:MA |
Belgium:KT |
Canada:18A (video rating) |
Chile:18 |
Finland:K-16 |
France:U |
Germany:16 (bw) |
Mexico:B |
Netherlands:16 |
Norway:18 |
Portugal:M/16 |
Spain:18 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:18
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
During a two day break in filming, Michael Madsen impulsively proposed to and married DeAnna Madsen. According to Madsen, when he told Al Pacino, Pacino was disgusted with Madsen's impulsiveness.
more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: Early on in the film, Neil Diamond's song 'Love on the Rocks' can be clearly heard playing in the background, in fact one of the card players in the scene sings along. 'Love on the Rocks' was not released until 1980.
more
Quotes:
Lefty Ruggiero:
Anywhere you go, all around the world, all the best cooks are men.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Robert De Niro/Destiny's Child (#30.8)" (2004)
more
Soundtrack:
Cool Jerk
more
FAQ
What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Extended Cut?more
more (179 total)
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In the late 1970's, FBI agent Joe Pistone poses as jewel expert Donnie Brasco to win the trust of ageing mob middleman Lefty Ruggiero. As time passes Donnie gets tighter and tighter into the mob, rising up when boss Sonny Black gets bumped up. While Donnie puts his life at risk, his real life crumbles as he never sees his wife or children. As he moves upwards, his friend Lefty is bypassed time and time again. As Donnie gets deeper, the FBI start to worry and want to extract him - something that cannot be done without exposing himself and condemning Lefty to death.
Now that Pirates of the Caribean has made him a bankable star as well as a good actor I decided to dig out some of my old Depp videos and watch them. I have been a Depp fan since the mid-90's when I saw Arizona Dream, Ed Wood and Don Juan all in a period of 6 months -I realised then that this was not only a very talented guy but also one who seemed happy to do whatever interested him rather than whatever was going to make money. This film is in a well known and fairly reliable genre - the Italian American gangster movie but has the strength that it is an engaging true story. The plot follows Joe as he gets in deeper, is suspected, gets involved in battles between bosses and eventually starts to lose himself and forget what side he is actually on. Even though this is a true story, it still basically goes where we expect mob films to go, but it manages to rise above the clichés by having some very good characters and emotional themes.
The whole gangster thing works and is gripping, but it is the relationship dynamics between Joe and Lefty that made it more interesting. The element of going `native' when undercover has been done plenty of times, but it is the combination of this being fact and Depp's great performance that makes it work well here; we feel for Joe a great deal. On the flipside the film also allows us to feel for the mob, or at least one of them. The majority of the mobsters are the usual stereotypes but Lefty is written with a great deal of sympathy - he is a middleman, taking the risks, doing the dirt but always passed over and having to beg money to keep his bosses happy. These are tragic characters and the film is not the slightly glamorous gangster lifestyle that Pacino has experienced in his Godfather roles. These two characters are well written and it is their subplots that makes the film better than the central plot (which itself is also very good).
Depp is good and his performance is solid even if it doesn't really rank up their with his best - he lacks his usual flair but he gives the material it's dues. Pacino is of course, wonderful. His character is a far cry from his Godfather work and he manages to bring such pathos to Lefty that it is impossible not to feel for him. The support cast may not have as much in the way of character but they all do well in their roles. Madsen, Kirby, Ivanek, Heche, Miano and others all give good support, but it is Pacino and Depp's film - which is a good thing.
Overall, the fact that this is a true story makes it more interesting but, while I was watching it I wasn't really thinking about it and was just enjoying the gangster film itself. The basic story is a well worn one but is still delivery well by Newell (who was a very unusual choice for director), but it is the emotion threads involving Joe and Lefty that make the film much more than just another gangster film.