Donnie Brasco (1997)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

One of the best films i have seen

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Great story and even better cast. Really strong movie. "The Godfather" of the nineties.8,5/10

It's the 70s in New York and Donnie Brasco, a young jewels experts, gets pulled into the mafia by an ageing gangster named Lefty. Donnie is introduced to people, given responsibilities, allowed in the know about the rules of the crime family, all that jazz. But not everyone is as they seem and soon inner quarrelling threatens the integrity of the family.Watching this film feels slightly weird if you've seen Goodfellas, like I have. Because they're eerily similar in their portrayal of mafia. Like scene for scene similar. There's talk about made men, my friend versus our friend, all that stuff. They even exchange wads of cash for Christmas, just like in Goodfellas. I get that that is actually how the mafia just might work, but it's still weird how much stuff is pulled from that movie. Because the stories are not all that similar at all. Goodfellas is about mafia from the point of view of mafia, whereas this is about infiltration, examining the mafia from the point of view of an intruder.And it's a good movie all around. Johnny Depp and Al Pacino are both powerhouse actors, despite this being relatively early on in Depp's career. The story is interesting, the gangster world created is even more interesting and it just has style to it. Goodfellas perhaps portrayed the lure of mafia better, but this allows us to see the ugly underbelly of that.All in all worth a watch for all gangster movie fans. It has it all.

I went into this movie being a tad sceptical- primarily about Depp and Pacino's chemistry. It was already Pacino's post-prime era and I've always had some concern about Depp's performances in serious movies. However, i was gladly surprised because, let's be straightforward, this movie had me absolutely on the edge of my seat. One of the best mafia movies of the 90's (and there many of them), and one that is based on a true story. A really amazing story, one that deserved to be retold on the big screen. To begin with, cinematography is quite good and enjoying to watch. Mike Newell shows he deserves much more respect in Hollywood. The movie never gets boring. 70's atmosphere is recreated perfectly, cars, dressing, music, setup, it launches you back to that era with ease.Being based on a true story, the movie portrays mob life very precisely, unlike some other flicks we've seen over the years. The entire hierarchy, gangster life, their behaviour, simplicity of their conversations, the "being made" thing, it's both interesting and serious at the same time. One of the best things is that the movie shows how dangerous Joseph Pistone's task was. The movie had to be realistic in every aspect, and you will see, near the end, (no spoiler) how much gore and violence there is. Nothing is avoided, chopped heads, rivers of blood, everything is there. That goes to show how serious the movie is, despite being easy and comedic at moments (especially the Florida part). The performances are outstanding. Pacino- lovable gangster. You can identify with his character very much. He plays him in a very specific way, and brings out just the right emotions in the viewer. But, nothing less is expected from the legend. Depp- awesome. I don't know much about the real Joseph Pistone, but i'm sure i don't need to because this is one of Johnny's best performances. Michael Madsen is perfectly cast, too. However, i have a complaint about Anne Heche- while i have nothing against her acting skills in particular, i think she is wrongfully cast. Her chemistry with Depp could have been better. Another little thing that bothers me is the ending, which somewhat deviates from the real story and has left me a bit confused. However, that is nothing to harm this amazing movie which i will definitely be watching again. A real gem that deserves more recognition. 8/10.

The movie highlights some really brilliant actors and performances. Al Pacino's "Lefty" Ruggiero is definitely not some over-the-top bully gangster persona, just a connected, faithful soldier doing 'The Family's' bidding. Outstanding performance. Most of what is seen from Mr. Pacino now-a-days, is the type-cast ruffian boss…exaggerating every phrase by grunting some kind of indiscernible guttural assertion. He is a valuable and skilled talent and should be appreciated to his fullest. Another stellar performance is turned in by a young Johnny Depp. Talk about unquestionable skill. In this thriller he is not some altered version of a stumbling, mumbling 'Captain Jack', but a convincing undercover FBI agent, placed in the cross-hairs 24/7. "Brasco" is a thriller from the beginning to the end – a real nail-biter if you will. I don't know how much is true…I doubt any…other than maybe the cover-story. I do think the film did a superb job of showing what some truly dedicated people in law enforcement will volunteer for just to bring down the 'bad guys.' Not only do these people battle with dangerous criminals, but they also go loggerheads with inept, self-serving bureaucrats. I think this is a movie well worth a gander and I highly recommend it for that next person yearning to volunteer – 'for the team.' LESSON LEARNED: You take the risks and do all the work and the accolades are scattered amongst many non-hackers. True rewards are only personal.