Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Mobster Masterpiece Worth Watching Over and Over Again, January 4, 2003
Based on a true story that is so amazing and shocking, "Donnie Brasco" is a fantastic film that hooks you from start to finish. With stars like Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen, and many more, this is a movie that should be seen by all.FBI Joseph D. Pistone is an undercover agent who's goal is to get into the violent and unpredictable mob world. He goes the by name of Donnie Brasco. Soon he is discovered by Lefty Ruggiero, who sees potential in the kid, not aware of who Brasco really is. He brings him into the family and the world of the Mafia. It doesn't take long for Joseph to get so deep into the action that he starts to become one of them. This unforgettable picture shows us that sometimes you can become what you chase if you're in too long, and that in order to catch a monster you may become one yourself in the process. I became addicted to this film in no time. It's one of my favorites that I have seen over and over again, and it hasn't gotten old yet. The acting and directing is all fantastic. Al Pacino really shines, as always, and Johnny Depp gives an Academy Award performance as the FBI agent. He actually spent time with the real Joseph Pistone to get his character down, as he did when he was working on "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Michael Madsen is also terrific and can once again send chills down our spines just as he did in "Reservoir Dogs." This new special edition of the DVD is much, MUCH better than the original. First off, the sound and picture quality has really improved. Especially the picture; it looks a lot better than the first version that came out. There are also a lot of extras, including features such as director's commentary, and exclusive featurette, the original featurette, deleted scenes, trailers, and more. The featurettes are very interesting and makes the DVD that much more special. A very high quality special edition, if you ask me. All in all, "Donnie Brasco" is an outstanding picture on all fronts. Filled with drama and suspense, this is a film that will take you deep into the world of the Mafia. The only question is how far would you go? And would you risk becoming one of them when it's all said and done? Excellent all the way!
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deep masterpiece on crime fighting., June 8, 2008
None of us knows what it's really like to go undercover. We think we do but we don't. Sure, we've watched the movies, read the books and all but what it's doing to your soul, your family life, everything, that it destroys all you have and feel, that is what this movie is about.
When Lefty (Al Pacino as a low level mobster) takes in Donnie (Johnny Depp as an undercover FBI agent) he tells him "Wiseguys are always right. Even when they're wrong they're right," he is wrong. Dead wrong. He just doesn't know it yet.
Lefty treats Donnie as a son and Donnie gets emotionally involved. In his own way Lefty has a big heart, his hopes and dreams. But the dirt gets in the way and they don't materialize.
Bit by bit both Lefty's and Donnie's lives derail. Donnie starts losing his wife and kids and Lefty his rank in the (crime)family.
Can they do anything to save what's left? Do they want to and if so, what is more important, life as it was, friendship or the uncertain future? Does risking everything justify the costs?
Based on a true story this marvelous film shows the dirt as it is. Forget about the romance of other mobster movies and enter loyalty and misery. Both Al Pacino and Johnny Depp give larger than life performances. The supporting cast is terrific as is the directing. The 70s style indoor lighting helps turn it into a timeless masterpiece.
The Blu-ray disc is sharp as can be. This one should be in your collection.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Donnie Brasco - A true mafia masterpiece!, October 24, 2003
"Donnie Brasco" is a true mafia masterpiece and what is more interesting about it is that it is based on an amazing true story. This is the true story of FBI undercover agent Joseph D. Pistone, who when faced with the task of infiltrating a New York City "family," he not only does that, but he did it with perfection. As you will soon learn with this movie, FBI undercover agent Joseph Pistone infiltrated and stayed within this "family" for six years and if it weren't for his superiors' intervention he would've stayed with them even longer, as he was within months of becoming a "made" wise guy when he was brought out."Donnie Brasco" represents a sort of coming out for Johnny Depp in that this was really his first adult dramatic role that didn't portray him as a teenager or something in the Science Fiction range. He truly deserves all of the accolades that he earned for this role. Al Pacino's performance was superior for this movie. In so many movies he's made, he's played pretty much the same guy with a different name, this is not the case with his role in "Donnie Brasco," he truly became the character he was playing. This was an Oscar winning performance on his part, the only missing part was the actual best supporting Oscar. The performances by Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, Anne Heche and all of the other actors in this outstanding film all served beautifully in making this film the true silver screen masterpiece that it is. It's kind of odd that British director Mike Newell of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" fame would get the directing nod for "Donnie Brasco" but in the end, it worked out perfectly and he deserves a great amount of credit for the "style" and "atmosphere" of this film. The score for "Donnie Brasco" plays perfectly with every scene of the film, serving to enhance the story. The premise: FBI undercover agent Joseph D. Pistone is tasked with the mission to infiltrate Lefty Ruggiero's (Al Pacino) mob family. Posing as a jewel broker Donnie Brasco, Agent Pistone does this with apparent ease. He soon learns that this will not be a quick task to complete and his six year run begins, jeopardizing his family, his career and his life as he becomes so intertwined with this crime family and starts to care about his mob "mentor" Lefty, whose life will become forfeit when the truth is revealed. For any fan of the "mob" movie genre, I highly recommend this film as it gives a perfect look at the mob lifestyle and it easily ranks up there with many of the famous mob movies. This movie will certainly bear multiple viewings. {ssintrepid} Special Features: - Director's Commentary
- Exclusive Featurette "Donnie Brasco: Out from the Shadows"
- Original Featurette
- Deleted Scenes with or without commentary
- Isolated Music Score
- Theatrical trailers
- Talent Files
- Production notes
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