Donnie Brasco (1997)

Director:

Mike Newell

Writers (WGA):

Joseph D. Pistone (book) and
Richard Woodley (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

28 February 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Donnie Brasco. Based On A True Story.

Plot:

An FBI undercover agent infilitrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the mafia life to the expense of his regular one.

Plot Keywords:

Mafia | FBI | Undercover | FBI Agent | Mole

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Benjamin 'Lefty' Ruggiero
Johnny Depp	...	Donnie Brasco / Joseph D. 'Joe' Pistone
Michael Madsen	...	Sonny Black
Bruno Kirby	...	Nicky
James Russo	...	Paulie
Anne Heche	...	Maggie Pistone
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Tim Curley
Gerry Becker	...	Agent Dean Blandford FBI
Robert Miano	...	Sonny Red
Brian Tarantina	...	Bruno
Rocco Sisto	...	Richard 'Richie' Gazzo
Zach Grenier	...	Dr. Berger
Walt MacPherson	...	Sheriff
Ronnie Farer	...	Annette Ruggiero
Terry Serpico	...	Strip Club Owner
Gretchen Mol	...	Sonny's Girlfriend
Tony Lip	...	Philly Lucky
George Angelica	...	Big Trin
Val Avery	...	Trafficante
Madison Arnold	...	Jilly
Delanie Fitzpatrick	...	Daughter Amanda Pistone
Katie Sagona	...	Daughter Jessica Pistone
Sara Gold	...	Daughter
Larry Romano	...	Tommy Ruggiero
Tim Blake Nelson	...	FBI Technician
Paul Giamatti	...	FBI Technician
James McCauley	...	FBI Agent (as James Michael McCauley)
James Bulleit	...	U.S. Attorney (as Jim Bulleit)
Andrew Parks	...	U.S. Attorney Hollman
Keenan Shimizu	...	Japanese Maitre D'
Rocco Musacchia	...	Trafficante's Man
Joe Francis	...	Trafficante's Man
Sal Jenco	...	Mare Chiaro Bartender
Billy Capucilli	...	Communion Party Man
Laura Cahill	...	Communion Party Woman
Doreen Murphy	...	Mob Girlfriend
Elle Alexander	...	Mob Girlfriend
Denise Faye	...	Mob Girlfriend
Elaine del Valle	...	Mob Girlfriend (as Elaine Del Valle)
John Horton	...	FBI Director
Dan Brennan	...	FBI Photographer
LaJuan Carter	...	Singer
Sandy Barber	...	Singer
Joyce Stovall	...	Singer
Frank Pesce	...	Wiseguy
Randy Jurgensen	...	Wiseguy
John Di Benedetto	...	Wiseguy (as John DiBenedetto)
Richard Zavaglia	...	Wiseguy
Tony Ray Rossi	...	Wiseguy
Edward Black	...	Wiseguy
Gaetano LoGiudice	...	Wiseguy
Carmelo Musacchia	...	Wiseguy
Pat Vecchio	...	Wiseguy
Caleb	...	The Lion
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Bonsangue	...	Sonny Red's Crew (uncredited)
Christopher Del Gaudio	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Barry Hirschberg	...	Background (uncredited)
Jim Lavin	...	Arresting FBI Officer (uncredited)
Jeff Millstein	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Lisa Marie Panagos	...	Sonny Black's Girl (uncredited)
Garry Pastore	...	Carmine Galante's Bodyguard (uncredited)
Larry Tobias	...	Man in Bar (uncredited)
Edward Williams	...	Guest at Club / Florida Location (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Newell

Writing credits (WGA)
Joseph D. Pistone		(book "Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia") and
Richard Woodley		(book "Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia")
Paul Attanasio		(screenplay)

Produced by
Louis DiGiaimo	....	producer
Alan Greenspan	....	executive producer
Mark Johnson	....	producer
Barry Levinson	....	producer
Patrick McCormick	....	executive producer
Gail Mutrux	....	producer

Original Music by
Patrick Doyle

Cinematography by
Peter Sova		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jon Gregory

Casting by
Louis DiGiaimo
Brett Goldstein

Production Design by
Donald Graham Burt

Art Direction by
Jefferson Sage

Set Decoration by
Leslie A. Pope		(as Leslie Pope)

Costume Design by
Aude Bronson-Howard
David C. Robinson		(as David Robinson)

Makeup Department
Margot Boccia	....	makeup artist
Milton Buras	....	key hair stylist
Nathan J. Busch II	....	hair stylist (as Nathan Busch II)
John Caglione Jr.	....	key makeup artist
Derek Becker	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Jay Cannistraci	....	makeup artist: Florida (uncredited)
Sharon Kalb	....	makeup artist: Miami (uncredited)

Production Management
Richard Baratta	....	unit production manager
Michael Saxton	....	post-production supervisor
Chantal Feghali	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric Henriquez	....	dga trainee
Sam Hoffman	....	second assistant director
Joseph P. Reidy	....	first assistant director (as Joseph Reidy)
Danielle Rigby	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
James Bono	....	assistant property master
Jon Copley	....	art department coordinator
Frank DeCurtis	....	set dresser
Claudette Didul	....	set dresser
Deborah Dreyer	....	set dresser
Bruce Lee Gross	....	leadman
Vinny Mazzarella	....	assistant property master
James Mazzola	....	property master
Jeff Mazzola	....	assistant property master
Jeffrey D. McDonald	....	assistant art director (as Jeffrey McDonald)
Deborah Moses	....	set dresser
Raymond M. Samitz	....	construction coordinator (as Ray Samitz)
Steve Swanson	....	set dresser
Alan Trumpler	....	chargeman scenic artist
Tom Warren	....	assistant art director (as Thomas Warren)
Denis Zack	....	set dresser (as Dennis Zack)
Michael Zansky	....	chargeman scenic artist
Jerry Eller	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Rod England	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Gerard J. Furey	....	shop craft foreman (uncredited)
Charles Guanci Jr.	....	props (uncredited)
Claire Kirk	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Richard E. Kruder	....	set dresser: Florida (uncredited)
Nicholas Lundy	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Todd MacNicholl	....	key construction grip (uncredited)
Christine Mayer	....	assistant set decorator (uncredited)
Mick Rossman	....	scenic (uncredited)

Sound Department
Philip Alton	....	foley editor
Sue Baker	....	dialogue editor
Tim Cavagin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Graham Farrow	....	assistant sound editor
Ian Fuller	....	supervising sound editor
Derek Holding	....	adr editor
Dean Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ian Macbeth	....	assistant sound editor
Tod A. Maitland	....	sound mixer
Christine Newell	....	assistant sound editor
Victor Nunes	....	assistant sound editor
T.J. O'Mara	....	boom operator (as Terence O'Mara)
Grahame Peters	....	sound effects editor
Michael Redfern	....	assistant sound editor
Joel Holland	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ron Ottesen	....	special effects supervisor (as Ronald Ottesen Jr.)

Visual Effects by
Martin Body	....	optical cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunt coordinator (as George Aguilar)
Victor Chan	....	stunts
Peter Bove	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeffrey Lee Gibson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steve Hart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Brian Smyj	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Anderson	....	best boy electric (as Thomas Anderson)
David E. Baron	....	second assistant camera (as David Baron)
Michael Green	....	first assistant camera
Richard Guinness Jr.	....	key grip
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer
Kevin Janicelli	....	rigging gaffer
Sal Lanza	....	best boy grip
Patrick McGrath	....	dolly grip
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator
Gary Muller	....	first assistant camera
Kevin Murphy	....	chief lighting technician
Peter Norman	....	additional photographer
Ronald Plant	....	rigging grip
Andrew Priestley	....	second assistant camera
Nils Johnson	....	24 frame video operator (uncredited)
Ondrej Kubicek	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Vincent Lanza	....	grip (uncredited)
Wayne Paull	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
James M. Reeves	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Fleet Emerson	....	extras casting
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting
Mark Byrne	....	casting assistant: Sylvia Fay casting (uncredited)
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Dumais	....	wardrobe supervisor: men
Mary Gierczak	....	costumer
Lauren Press	....	assistant costume designer
Lawrence Tarzy	....	costumer
Susan J. Wright	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Susan Wright)
Joanna Brett	....	assistant to costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Sam Adelman	....	first assistant editor: USA
John Dicker	....	third assistant editor: USA
Valentina Giambanco	....	second assistant editor: UK
Marianne Gray	....	post-production coordinator (as Marianne Pettersson Gray)
Christopher Holmes	....	extended edition
Sorin Ariel Iarovici	....	second assistant editor: USA (as Sorin Iarovici)
Kezia Martin	....	third assistant editor: UK
Ian Seymour	....	first assistant editor: UK
John Stanborough	....	color timer
Mike Fraser	....	negative cutter (uncredited)
Kurt Mattila	....	editor: title sequence (uncredited)
Mark Neale	....	trainee assistant film editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Budd Carr	....	executive music producer
Robin Clarke	....	music editor
Paul Hulme	....	scoring mixer
Allan Mason	....	executive music producer
Sylvia Nestor	....	music coordinator
Roy Prendergast	....	music editor
Maggie Rodford	....	music score producer
Curt Sobel	....	music consultant
John Bell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Richard Holston	....	transportation captain
Michael Hyde	....	transportation coordinator
Mike Easter	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Chris Allies	....	end title graphics
Michael Bederman	....	assistant accountant
Laura Berning	....	assistant location manager
Nathaniel Bonini	....	assistant location manager
Jeanne Brennan	....	production office coordinator
Cynthia Carriere	....	production assistant
Aryn Chapman	....	production assistant
Kyle Cooper	....	title designer: main titles
Bruce Corkham	....	assistant: Mr. Depp (as Bruce Corkum)
Lou Crisa	....	assistant: Mr. Pacino
Robin Cross	....	assistant accountant
Christi Dembrowski	....	assistant: Mr. Depp
Lisa Diamond	....	assistant: Mr. Newell
Lou DiGiaimo Jr.	....	assistant: Mr. DiGiaimo
Timothy Donohue	....	production assistant
Tink Ten Eyck	....	production accountant
Michelle Guastello	....	assistant: Mr. Madsen
Chandra Joy Hagopian	....	production secretary
Scott Hornbacher	....	location manager
Melvin James	....	production assistant (as Melvin Anderson)
Jon Johnson Sr.	....	production assistant
Tish Johnson	....	assistant accountant
Susann Jones	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson
Tim Judge	....	assistant: Mr. Pacino
Beverly Jusi	....	assistant accountant (as Beverly Meade)
Lisa Katcher	....	script supervisor
Danielle Katz	....	production assistant
Kate Kelly	....	assistant production office coordinator
Claire Kirk	....	production assistant
Amy Leigh Johnson	....	unit publicist (as Amy Johnson)
Steve McAuliff	....	animal trainer
Steven W. McKinney	....	assistant: Mr. McCormick
Hector Mesa Jr.	....	production assistant
Doug Moreno	....	assistant accountant
Jamie Mullins	....	production assistant
Alexandra Newman	....	animal trainer (as Alex Newman)
Michael Nickodem	....	assistant location manager
Maria Poulathas	....	production assistant
Chris Rossman	....	production assistant
Shea Rowan	....	production assistant
Charlie Sammut	....	animal trainer (as Charle Sammut)
Jamie Sheridan	....	production assistant (as James Sheridan)
Niki Strippoli	....	production assistant
David Tain	....	production assistant
Shawnna Thibodeau	....	production assistant
Gilbert S. Williams	....	production assistant (as Gil Williams)
H. Leah Amir	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Nigel Arscott	....	assistant location manager: Florida (uncredited)
Robert Cahoon	....	production secretary: second unit (uncredited)
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Jeff Chena	....	stand-in: Mr. Depp (uncredited)
Stefan Ashton Frank	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Ryan R. Johnson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Elayne Keratsis	....	production coordinator: Florida (uncredited)
Ian MacGregor	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Kurt Mattila	....	title designer (uncredited)
Emily Samantha Sherman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Sherrill Smith	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Leah Sokolowsky	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Frank Venegas	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Rick Washburn	....	weapons coordinator (uncredited)
Pamela Lyn Weiss	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Tim Wilson	....	utility stand-in (uncredited)
Joseph Zolfo	....	location assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
James Flamberg	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Mandalay Entertainment (presents)
• Baltimore Pictures (co-production)
• Mark Johnson Productions (co-production)

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1997) (USA) (theatrical) (a Sony Pictures Entertainment company)
• TriPictures (1997) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Concorde Film (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Vitória Filmes (1997) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Lider Films (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (1997) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1997) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Intersonic (1997) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (Canada) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (1997) (Finland) (VHS)
• Egmont Entertainment (????) (Finland) (DVD)
• Egmont Film (1997) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Gativideo (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2000) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Nelonen (2001) (Finland) (TV)
• Nordisk Film (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Animal Actors  animal provided by
• Astoria Films  production services
• Broward County Office of Economic Development  special thanks (as Broward, Florida Economic Development Council Inc.)
• Coast to Coast Catering  catering
• Cop Shop Miami  police cars (uncredited)
• DLT Entertainment  "Three's Company" clip provided courtesy of
• Florida Motion Picture and Television Bureau, The  special thanks
• Goldcrest Post Production London  post-production facilities (as Goldcrest Post Production)
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack available on
• Imaginary Forces  main title sequence
• Mike Fraser  negative cutting
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  special thanks
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Peerless Camera Company  optical effects (as Peerless Camera Co.)
• Reeltime Creative  trailer music
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting
• Technicolor  color
• Twickenham Studios  sound facilities (as Twickenham Film Studios)

Also Known As:

"Fake" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong graphic violence, pervasive strong language and brief nudity and sexuality

Runtime:

127 min | 147 min (extended cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | Japanese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

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 | USA:R (certificate #34334) | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Peru:18

Filming Locations:

59th Street Bridge, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Mandalay Entertainment

Trivia:

Joe Pesci was 'Mike Newell (I)''s first choice for Nicky.

Goofs:

Continuity: During a conversation between Lefty and 'Donnie', Lefty complains that the temperature is only 10 degrees. If this were so, his breath would be visible.

Quotes:

Lefty:How much money did you give that guy? A wiseguy never pays for his drinks.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Disarmed and Dangerous (#9.12)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Cool Jerk

Depp and Pacino in terrific movie

For some reason a Johnny Depp movie is always interesting. Whether it is a biopic about Ed Wood, a dark fairy tale about a man with scissors instead of hands, a movie about the greatest lover the world has ever known or a adventurous story about pirates, Depp's performance alone makes it worth seeing. Here he plays FBI-agent Joe Pistone who goes undercover using the name Donnie Brasco. He becomes a wiseguy with the help of Lefty (Al Pacino), who is sort of a loser wiseguy who desperately needs to be a mentor because most of his mafia family members look down on him. Donnie comes as a gift from heaven and it does not take long before Lefty trusts Donnie completely. The problem for FBI-agent Donnie is that he's starting to like Lefty as well.

The movie is a gangster movie but has its focus on the relationship between Lefty and Donnie and sometimes on other relationships. Donnie, or Joe, is married to Maggie (Anne Heche) who he hardly sees. He can not exactly tell her what he is doing and sometimes stays away for a couple of weeks. She pretends she is a widow to deal with it. We also learn about the relationships in the mafia family, including new boss Sonny (Michael Madsen).

The fact that this movie is more about the people and their relationships than about the events is a good thing. Sure movies like 'Goodfellas' are terrific but to see something a little different from time to time is nice as well. If you make a movie about people and their emotions you need to have some good performers to make the scenes believable. I already mentioned Depp but of course we have Pacino here as well. His Lefty is a memorable character and it is Pacino who makes sure that happens, but the fact that Depp is as good and especially believable as heavyweight Pacino says something. Of course we have Madsen who was probably the only right actor for the macho mobster Sonny.

Director Mike Newell seems to be a strange choice for this sometimes very violent and bloody story since he directed the terrific but sweet 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'. Fortunately it turns out he is the right man for this material, probably because its real subject is not gangsters but, like I said before, the relationships between the characters. 'Donnie Brasco' has enough to offer for people who like the gangster-genre, but even if you are normally not a big fan there is still a chance you might like it.