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 | 1970s

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 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:
Elle Alexander	...	Mob Girlfriend (uncredited)
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
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
Giancarlo Giannini	....	voice dubbing: Al Pacino
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)
• 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
• 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 Film 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:

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

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

Company:

Mandalay Entertainment

Trivia:

Johnny Depp met with the actual Joseph D. Pistone a number of times to gain knowledge and expertise for the role. He also took gun firing lessons from the FBI.

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the movie, when Donnie is called to get out of the car, he turns off the engine, the windscreen wipers are almost vertical. In the next shot, they are half-way down.

Quotes:

Lefty Ruggiero:Anywhere you go, all around the world, all the best cooks are men.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shark Tale (2004)

Soundtrack:

Working My Way Back To You

The Biggest Mutt In The History Of The Mafia

With only one real scene of violence and mayhem in the film, Donnie Brasco relies far more on character development in a story of two men and the planned betrayal of one by another in the line of duty.

Johnny Depp plays real life FBI undercover agent Joe Pistone who infiltrates the Bonano crime family through the good offices of Lefty Ruggiero, a small time Mafia button man played by Al Pacino. During the five years undercover, Pistone who used the alias of Donnie Brasco was responsible for about 200 federal indictments because of the work he did. It took a terrible strain on him and his family as the film so aptly demonstrates.

It must have been like old home week for Johnny Depp who made his acting bones playing a youthful undercover cop in the television series 21 Jump Street. But the difference between Officer Tom Hanson going undercover for a couple of weeks at some high school and agent Pistone living and working with the wise guys for five years afraid of being found out is the difference between Donald Duck and Donald Trump.

Depp's performance as Pistone/Brasco is conveyed as much by body language and closeups as with dialog. He'd like very much to return to his wife and three daughters and live a normal life, but the demands of the job make it impossible. According to Wikipedia's article on Pistone he was uniquely qualified for his undercover assignment having lived and grown up among wise guys in New Jersey. He was familiar with all the Mafia culture and could blend in easily. The strain shows on him in his scenes with wife Anne Heche, only someone with a real gift for acting could make those scenes so real.

Depp is matched by Al Pacino as the luckless Lefty Ruggiero. In the Mafia code he vouches for Depp and if Depp betrays trust in any way, Pacino's marked for death.

Lefty Ruggiero is a hired killer with as he boasts 27 contract kills to his credit. Yet he's also a family man with a lot of problems as is Depp. Even though the man is in fact evil, Pacino does make him a likable sort. It's why Depp is dreading the day he's out from undercover because it means certain death for a man who's grown to be his friend.

Except when the crew that Depp and Pacino are part of do ambush a rival group before in fact they do it to them, Donnie Brasco is a fairly non violent film for a gangster story. Donnie Brasco emphasizes character development and a good script as opposed to bloody mayhem.

I think you'll like the story about a man who turned a friend into the biggest mutt in the history of the Mafia.