Donnie Brasco (Wide Screen) > Reviews

Advantages: Great script , great acting
Disadvantages: Maybe a touch too long for the content

...identity of a Jewler named Donnie Brasco in order to infiltrate the Mafia. His first contact comes through a hitman, Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino). Needless to say, things don't all go according to plan. The story is initially very engaging. Depp is typically excellent in perhaps one of his more 'mainstream' roles. As for Pacino, he pulls off his ageing hitman with the consumate ease one would expect from one of the finest actors of his generation. ... Read review

Advantages: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Excellent depiction of friendship
Disadvantages: Bit slow at times

...show for it". He meets Donnie Brasco( Depp) at a restaurant and impressed by him, he takes him under his wings. He also introduces him to other gang members Nicky( Bruno Kirby) an affable and friendly chap, Paulie( James Russo) a tough as nails hoodlum and Sonny Black( Michael Madsen), a domineering, brutal thug, who likes to dominate the show. Lefty hates Sonny, as he feels that Sonny is the more favored guy, inspite of him doing the dirty work. ... Read review

Advantages: Superbly implemented Mob undercover thriller
Disadvantages: Forget about it

....and Al Pacino kills a mean don. Mafia films, you either love them or need to adjust your attitude before the boys address your lack of respect for the family. This one has Johnny Depp as a deep cover FBI (or was it CIA?) bloke befriending Al Pacinos mob hitman. Depp has a family (the lovely Anne Heche on top form as the long suffering wife) he pops back home to occasionnally, but the film mostly is about Depps burgeoning relationship with Pacino's ... Read review

Advantages: Gangster Classic - Depp is awesome
Disadvantages: Don't expect a Goodfella's or Godfather

...life he knows - "if Donnie is Rat?", well Lefty is the one who vouched for him - so we know what's going to happen next. Movie Features: Widesreen - 2:35 ratio. Running time - 120 Minutes Added Value: The Making of Trailer. Overall Opinion: I love this movie!! Depp is awesome in any role he plays, he is constantly impressing me with his versatitllity and variety of roles he undertakes. Make no mistake - he delivers in this film. Pacino ... Read review

Advantages: Very watchable, good cast
Disadvantages: less thrilling than other's in this category

...an undercover FBI called Donnie agent who infiltrates a mob family, in order to bring it down from the inside. Problem being as he gets deeper into the mob culture he starts to question his motives and also looses touch with his real-life. Pacino plays Lefty, a long serving mob hit-man who happens to be unsatisfied with his life, seeing others getting praised when he stands in the relitive shadows. So, the characters become friends and their ... Read review

Advantages: amazing cast, acting, and finally a difeerent perspective of the mafia
Disadvantages: based on a true story so difficult to argue with much huh :)

...and hunted by the mafia), Donnie Brasco is like a De-romanticized, DE-mythologized version of The Godfather. It offers an uncommonly detailed, privileged glimpse inside the world of organized crime from the perspective of the little guys at the bottom of Mafia hierarchy rather than from the kingpins at the top. The plot shows the gradual build of friendship between Donnie and Lefty (Mr Pacino himself). Johnny Depps performance was one which completely ... Read review

Advantages: A brilliant film on a par with The Godfather
Disadvantages: Bugger off disadvantages. No-one loves you

You've got the plot summary 10 other reviewers have gave you it and there is a basic blurb on this site so Im not going to give you a plot summary. What I will tell you about is my impressions of the film I loved this film. No other film recaptures the excellence of The Godfather. Goodfella's and Casino tried but this does it. And it does it because this sin't a film driven by action scenes and weak plot leading up to action scenes. This film is ... Read review

Advantages: Brilliant acting and storyline
Disadvantages: doesn't follow the book as closely as it should

...first bought the book of Donnie Brasco for my holiday. As soon as i got back i went out and bought the video as it is such a brilliant book, and is such a brilliant film. I had never previously been a fan of Johnny Depps as i thought he was a bit of a 'poppy' acotr, and only starred in blockbuster films with no storylines, how wrong i was. His acting as Don 'the jeweller' Brasco is outstanding, and alongside the typically excellent Al Pacino he looks ... Read review