Stars: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, James Russo, Anne Heche

Director: Mike Newell

Summary: Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp) is an FBI who mole ingratiates himself into the Mafia pecking order by posing as 'jewel man' Donnie Brasco. He finds his loyalties divided when Lefty Ruggiero, a jaded hit man, takes him on as a protege and places real trust in him. The two men form a friendship and a criminal partnership that jeopardises Brasco's mission and obscures the boundaries between the law and the underworld. The film is based on the autobiography DONNIE BRASCO, MY UNDERCOVER LIFE IN THE MAFIA by former undercover agent Joseph D. Pistone. Directed by Mike Newell (FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL) and also starring Bruno Kirby (THE FRESHMAN, THIS IS SPINAL TAP), Michael Madsen (RESERVOIR DOGS) and Anne Heche (WAG THE DOG).

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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 Brascois 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 Brascois not only one of the great modern-day gangster movies to put in the company of The Godfatherfilms and GoodFellas, but it is also one of the great undercover police movies--arguably surpassing Serpicoand Prince of the Cityin 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 Funeraland the gritty, true crime melodrama Dance with a Stranger. --Jim Emerson

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	1997
Release Date:	September 1, 2005
Runtime:	121 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	E U M D 6008
Keywords:	General, Drama, Donnie, Brasco
Genre:	Drama