Though there are ample amount of
movies based on Mobsters and the Mafia led organized crime only very few that
actually is mention worthy. As we all know while Godfather remains as the
undisputed godfather of modern mob movies, the list gladly follows by movies
like Goodfellas (1990), Scarface (1983), Heat (1995) and The Departed (2006).
And Donnie Brasco is another fine jewel that so powerful and intense in
revealing the underworld life of mobsters and their painfully loyal and
ruthless culture. And it’s based on the true character Donnie Brasco (Joseph Pistone
in real) who was an undercover FBI agent who spent 6 long years with the mob (1975
-81) that ultimately came very closely to losing his natural life in the name
of duty.
FBI agent Pistone (Johnny Depp)
goes undercover as Donnie Brasco making connections with the aging hit man Benjamin
'Lefty' Ruggiero (Al Pacino). After
building trust with Lefty he manages to move in to big leagues and participate
in mob activities and gather valuable information. But at the same time due to
the work pressure and the overwhelming amount of crime he witness his
perception towards certain things goes through a dramatic change. While Pistones
wife and kids misses their man of the house he deeply engulfs in the mob and
struggles to strike a balance.
One strong reason why Donnie
Brasco sinks right in to the hearts of the viewers is that it has the right
flavor and mix of crime and emotional drama. While it is entirely the solely
expected mob crime movie it has a much unexpected value of feelings. Especially
towards the end of the movie viewers get a heavy load of it and it fuels reaching
a solid ending. The positive chemistry between the main leads Depp and Pacino is
another winner. Both of them have big movies and scores under their belts and
the director uses them to cleverly influence the viewers. While Pacino is a
household name for mob movies I recall Depp appears seldom in them and another
strong one being Public Enemies back in 2009. In this role Depp depicts an emotionless face
but underneath he finely portrays the ambition and at the same time the fear
which he hides inside.
The majority of the movie runs on
crime but does not show crime as such. However there is one scene which is
brutal and overly gruesome for even the hardest of crime movie fans. But through
that scene the director gives a clear message to the viewer about the filthy
reality of the mob and what Donnie has to deal while performing his duty. And
no crime and mob movie is completed without a gang murder. But Donnie Brasco
goes beyond being a movie about loyal gangsters and murderers.
Genre: Crime | Thriller | Drama
Director: Mike Newell
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