IMDb user comments for
Donnie Brasco (1997) More at IMDbPro »

Filter:

Best Chronological Prolific Authors Loved It Hated It Hide Spoilers:

Page 6 of 19:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Index

181 comments in total

---

none, 14 March 2006

Author: PeeWeeHerman1 from United States

This is the best Al Pacino and Johnny Deep movie yet. It tops Scarface and it should get the recognition it deserves.

Roniboy #7 coachella valley high school (arabs)

It has the qualities of anyother great movie to be considered as one of the best in recent history. It is based on a true story and yet no one has found Donnie Brasco which makes it that much more interesting. It also says that there is still a 500,000 dollar reward for the head of Donni Brasco which we all know that he is well protected and he will never be found. But if they do find him he old already so the fact will remain that he helped stop a lot of organized crimes which is great for us living in peace.

---

This ain't no fugazy, 2 March 2006

Author: michael_akira from Netherlands

Donnie Brasco, what more can you say about it.. i have seen this movie a dozen times and i still notice things i didn't saw before... the humor in the film is outstanding.. its all so normal just like when you are chilling with your friends making yokes and do your thing that's what makes this film so brilliant.. people say they don't look like gangsters.. you all watched to many gangster movies.. when you walk on the streets you don't see gangsters but there still there.. this movie is natural and thats also why not many people know about it.. i don't care if its in the top 10 top 100 or in the top 1000 best movies.. its in my top 10.. go watch the movie and look for the small things.. the way that Al Pacino and Johnny Depp show why they are on of the best actors in the world.. the first scene were Al Pacino walks into the bar and sits next to Depp is overwhelming!!! that scene and the scene of Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper in True Romance are one of best scenes wrote... fuggedaboutit Donnie Brasco 9

---

A surprisingly compelling adaptation of a true story, 7 December 2005

Author: MotoMike from Richardson, Texas

I had somewhat high hopes for this movie, but ended up amazed at how scene after scene turned out to be totally engrossing. Johnny Depp was mesmerizing and Al Pacino gave perhaps the most understated performance of his career. I've recently seen Goodfellas, and comparisons are unavoidable; they're both masterpieces but have very different characters. Goodfellas is vintage Scorsese; if there was a film he was born to make, this was it. Donnie Brasco, on the other hand, tells the by-now-familiar story of the tensions felt by the FBI Mafia infiltrator: the fear that his cover will be blown, the sense of abandonment by his family as they cope with his absence, and, most of all, a sense of identification with the group he is trying to send to prison. We've seen this before: Wiseguy (the TV series) played similar tunes (even having a central mobster named Sonny). More recently, The Sopranos tells as part of its sheaf of stories that of a mobster rat. I'm not as crazy about Michael Madsen's performance as other reviewers have been, and Ann Heche as Mrs. Pistone didn't do much for me. But the decidedly unglamorous portrayal of mobster life as lived by Lefty (Pacino's character) was wonderfully nuanced and detailed: his taste in clothes, his character's essential stupidity (cross-played with an almost animal instinct that doesn't always serve him well), and his tragic grief at his son's fate don't have any false notes in them.

I could, by now, get sick of Mafia flicks. After awhile, they rely on the same stereotypes of no trust, sudden violence, borderline or downright psychopathic personalities, and power games. But the performances and constant state of tension in this one made it very rewarding.

---

The best mafia film since the Godfather, 7 October 2005

Author: cspaced1

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The true story of FBI Agent Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp) who goes undercover to infiltrate one of the mob families.

He's alter-ego is Donnie Brasco.

Donnie maneuvers he's way into the confidence of aging Hit-Man, Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino) who trusts Donnie and vouches for him to the mob.

But Lefty and Donnie become friends when they should be enemies.

As Donnie moves deeper and deeper into the Mafia's Chain-of-Command, he realizes that he is not only crossing the line between Federal Afent and criminal, but is also leading he's friend Lefty into an almost certain death.

---

Interested in Mob films?, 25 September 2005

Author: atala21 from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This movie, is one of the best Mob films that we have today. While The Godfather provides us with a romantic view into the lives of Mafia bosses living in America and the movie Goodfellas gives us a different view of the mafia, showing us that they can be self destructive, and not always as organized as we think they are. There are many other Mob films out there, yet most of them aren't as well directed and written as the true story of Donnie Brasco, with the exception of the two latter mentioned films. I have seen them all, and i consider Donnie Brasco as number four, in the list of movies about the Italian Mafia.

1)The Godfather movies 2)Goodfellas 3)Casino 4)Donnie Brasco 5)Gotti

That is the list that i have formulated, after viewing each of these films several times. The Godfather is first as it has the best story, proving that a fictional story is always better than a true story. As it is the only movie on my list that is completely fictitious. While the Godfather is obviously based on non-fiction, the story is based on the fictional book "The Godfather", by Mario Puzo. As for Goodfellas, and Casino, these two films were directed by Martin Scorsese and were written by Nicholas Pileggi. These movies have also great acting, provided by Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, and Frank Vincent who are excellent at the job of delivering great Mafioso impersonations, and are based on true stories.

Now, Gotti is a documentary movie, solely based on the rise and fall of New York Italian Gambino mob boss John Gotti. I recommend you watch it if you are a fan of the Mob.

Then finally we have Donnie Brasco, starting Al Pacino, and Johnny Depp. Such a strange combination of actors for a movie like this one, the true story of Joe Pistone, an FBI agent played by Johnny Depp, who infiltrates the Mob. Al Pacino, one of the greatest actors of our time, plays "Lefty " Ruggiero, a wise guy Mafioso who is determined to become more powerful in the Italian Mob. However, he has a hard time getting respect from his superiors, as they see him as an old man with Testicular cancer. Its quite a touching story, if you like the Italian Mafia, and smile when they succeed, as their success will not be the main point of this true story.

---

Widely underrated, 31 August 2005

Author: d3nzel

I bought this movie on cheap, but its one of my favorites. I consider it a gangster flick. Although, its very different than Goodfellas and GFs for example. It's more realistic and it has more drama. Donnie Brasco is very underrated as far as I'm concerned. Depp's acting is great and he really surprised me in a positive way. Al Pacino, however, is the real dynamo of the film. I rank his performance as high as in scarface and in the godfather films(!!). Kirby, Madsen and Russo were also good. And the plot was interesting. If u like gangster movies - I recommend this.

10/10

---

Great Movie with even better Performances, 3 June 2005

Author: rocky (rocky_76) from London

This is in my opinion one of the most under-rated movies of all time. It's certainly up there with the best 'ganster/mafia' films.

Some may say that it strays too much away from the 'real life' story it was based on, but I look at it as a stand alone movie and judge it as a movie in it's own right - and it is one of my favourites as a result.

***********Minor spoilers below*********************** Johnny Depp is great as 'Donnie', and Pacino is also great as the pathetic 'Lefty'. The real beauty of this movie is the relationship between these 2 characters, some great chemistry between Pacino and Depp produces some very believable and poignant moments in the movie.

I felt a great deal of sympathy for 'Lefty' as he sees his protégé overtake him and his ambitions within the mafia ranks, and also for 'Donnie' who sees his under-cover alter-ego strangle his 'real world' family self....you can feel the stress him and his family are under.

This movie does not glamorise the underworld (ala Goodfellas), it concentrates more on the mafia 'low-lifes' - as a result feels so much more Real to me.

*************spoilers end******************************** Worth watching if you want to see a slightly different take on the mafia, and for the performances of Depp and Pacino.

---

Quick Reviews!!, 15 April 2005

Author: malkane316 from NI

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

At times more like Heat in style rather than Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco is a mix of many gangster films that have gone before, drawing parallels between mob life, and the real family life of each character, and showing the blurring of boundaries which can often occur. The style, the dialogue, the wit, the violence, everything we would expect to see is here, but there are enough good moments to keep the movie unique, and there are some good performances from typically very good actors. The film does not dwell on the scenes of murder, but rather focuses on characterisation, and the relationship between Donnie Brasco, the undercover agent who succumbs to the mafia way, and Lefty, an aging mobster who, in spite of his dedication and respected work has little to show for it, and never seems to rise through the ranks.

Johnny Depp plays Joe, an FBI agent, married with kids. He goes undercover as Donnie Brasco, an orphan from Florida to try and infiltrate the New York mafia. When Lefty, a member, takes interest in him, Donnie becomes part of the gang. Lefty teaches him everything and acts like a father, and they become close as Donnie sees how Lefty wishes he could get away with his family, and hates the fact that he is always 'passed over'. Madesen plays Sonny Black, a member who is rising ahead of Lefty even though he is younger and has done less. They move to Florida as Black tries to set up on his own, but the FBI raid his new club. They believe there is a rat, and kill one of their own thinking it was him. Lefty and Donnie know he was not a rat though. Black decides to kill Sonny Red and the other bosses so that he can have New York, and by this time Donnie is respected in the group and may one day become a 'made man'. His family have been deserted, and the FBI do not know what he is doing. Brasco says he is trying to get Lefty out of the group before he is killed, as when Brasco is uncovered, Lefty will undoubtedly die. Brasco is becoming just like the men he was supposed to be putting away, and getting deeper into trouble with each day.

Overall it is the acting which keeps the film running at a steady, watchable pace. Depp is very good as Brasco, convincing in his dual roles and in his portrayal of how easy it can be to be seduced by power. Pacino is on familiar territory, and again is intense and thoughtful when he needs to be, giving another strong performance. Madsen is also good as the short-fused Sonny Black, and everyone else does what they have to do. The script is nothing we haven't seen before, and although it sometimes seems like it is trying to too easily explain the ways and words of the mob, it still has a few refreshing moments. The life seems less glitzy than in other gangster films, and there are few shows of extravagance. These men seem to be low on the ladder, and not as good at what they do as other characters from other movies. We are left feeling great sympathy towards Lefty, even though he has been in the game for so long, he seems naive and in need of a real son or someone to connect with. He never gets a break, and is always the man given the smaller jobs. He has been in the business for so long that he knows little else though, and we sense from the start that he will never get away. Even though Joe completes his job, he knows blood will be forever on his hands and after having a taste of the high life, it will be difficult for him to return to normality.

8 out of 10

---

first-class mob movie, 27 March 2005
Author: antoniotierno (antoniotierno@hotmail.com) from Italy

This is without question a must see film for several reasons. Firstly, Al Pacino (Lefty Ruggiero) and Johnny Depp (Donnie Brasco) are captivating and absorbing coz they paint a realistic portrait of a low level mobster and an undercover cop. Secondly, for the first time (that I know of), Mafia is shown from a different position; the viewer is revealed a member of organized crime on the bottom rung of the ladder, instead of the usual criminal hero. Likewise, this flick displays a potent chemistry between the two stars who both put humor and tragedy on the screen. The result is an intelligent adult entertainment that everybody will remember for a long time.

---

I wish they didn't "forget" about the ending., 20 March 2005

Author: ZoSoJr182

One of the best mafia movies among so many great films, but has a few flaws that could have been easily dealt with. Along the lines of scarface and goodfellas (although goodfellas is better), this film is about the rise and fall of a small time hood, with a twist. Good story, great acting, great dialogue, lots of humor (the burial of Lefty on the beach, not in a "hit", its funny), a good sum of drama, though the ending could have been more dramatic if we knew what happened to Lefty, but they didn't tell us. I guess,according to hearing the gunshot, we are to assume he was whacked, i just wish they would have told us. Also they could have gone more into the relationship that forms between Donnie and Lefty to make the film whole. Overall a great mafia movie worth owning, 8 out of a 10.

---

---

Page 6 of 19:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Add another comment

---

Related Links

Plot summary	Amazon.com summary	Ratings
Awards	Newsgroup reviews	External reviews
Parents Guide	Plot keywords	Main details
Your user comments	Your vote history