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Donnie Brasco [1997]
![Donnie Brasco [1997]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5130H60R8AL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £1.95 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on a memoir by former undercover cop Joe Pistone (whose daring and unprecedented infiltration of the New York Mob scene earned him a place in the federal witness protection program), Donnie Brasco is like a de-romanticised, de-mythologised version of The Godfather. It offers an uncommonly detailed, privileged glimpse inside the world of organised crime from the perspective of the little guys at the bottom of Mafia hierarchy rather than from the kingpins at the top. Donnie Brasco is not only one of the great modern-day gangster movies to put in the company of The Godfather films and GoodFellas, but it is also one of the great undercover police movies--arguably surpassing Serpico and Prince of the City in richness of character, detail and moral complexity. Donnie (Johnny Depp, a splendid actor) is practically adopted by Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino), a gregarious, low-level "made" man who grows to love his young protégé like a son. (Pacino really sinks into this guy's skin and polyester slacks and creates his freshest, most fully realised character since his 1970s heyday.) As Donnie acclimates himself to Lefty's world, he distances himself from his wife (a terrific Anne Heche) and family for their own protection. Almost imperceptibly his sense of identity slips away from him. Questioning his own confused loyalties, unable to trust anybody else because he himself is an imposter, Donnie loses his way in a murky and treacherous no-man's land. The film is directed by Mike Newell, who also headed up Four Weddings and a Funeral and the gritty, true crime melodrama Dance with a Stranger. --Jim Emerson
Great crime movie
Review date: 2008-06-20 Rating: 10 out of 10
Fantastic. This film has plenty of everything you might want in this area. It's great entertainment, has the tang of reality plus a good deal of violence, domestic aggro and an interesting take on mob life.
It also has Al Pacino, Johnny Depp and Michael Madsen putting in top performances, and that can't be a bad thing. Very, very good movie.
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Reviews
Up there with the big ones
Review date: 2008-04-04 Rating: 10 out of 10
As an American History enthusiast, and someone with a firm interest in the US Mafia history, this film gets 5*s.
With an all star cast, including the legendary Al Pacino this film gives a true story of an FBI Agent who infiltrates a New York mafia ring, but becomes a little too close.
With some very graphic scenes it is not for the squeamish!
In my opinion, this film is up there with the big names such as Goodfellas and A Bronx Tale.
A great film, that can be watched over and over again.
A must see
Review date: 2007-11-26 Rating: 10 out of 10
A great film if your into mob films or not i really would recommend this film you, you know when Al is in a film is going to be good and he does not fail in this one.
Reaches the Heights of Goodfellas
Review date: 2007-11-22 Rating: 10 out of 10
A great movie that probably doesn't get its due because of inevitable comparisons to Goodfellas (few movies match up against that competition).Moreover,Pacino plays the gangster in a different way to that of Goodfellas, The Godfather Trilogy, Scarface and to a lesser extent, The Devil's Advocate.
The added element here, of course, is the FBI infiltration by Pistone, played by Johhny Depp. This was the first Depp movie that made me sit up and take notice of him other than as a "young" star. He's actually playing two characters within the movie. FBI agent Pistone and wiseguy Donnie. What I like about the performance is that he does a great job as Pistone acting as Donnie, making you believe you could have fooled all these wary, paranoid wiseguys.
Pacino as Lefty is another fantastic performance in what is now of the most powerful bodies of work by a male film actor. Compare this sad jamoke to his opposite on the spectrum of Mafia movie characters, Michael Corleone, and you have to remind yourself that it's the same actor playing both parts.
Up there with the rest of the best of them
Review date: 2007-11-20 Rating: 10 out of 10
I like my mob films, and this is definitely one of the best. It certainly stands up against The Godfather and comes in a VERY close second to Goodfellas. Johnny Depp has never been better, but unquestionably the star of the show is Al Pacino. Depp acts his socks off, but Pacino steals every scene he's in.
In my humble opinion, it is possibly Pacino's finest hour... his final scene (which I won't spoil for the uninitiated) never ever fails to bring a tear to my eye. A superb film, an underrated gem -- anyone who says it is 'boring' has simply failed to immerse themselves in it properly.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
James Russo
Michael Madsen
Johnny Depp
Al Pacino
Bruno Kirby
Creators:
Al Pacino (Primary Contributor)
Johnny Depp (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Entertainment in Video
Manufacturer: Entertainment in Video
EAN: 5017239190186
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 1999-06-28
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 121 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1997-02-28
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)