Day 117 - Donnie Brasco

Day 117          Donnie Brasco [1997]

                          

Screenplay                    Paul Attanasio

Based on                       ‘Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia’ by Joseph D. Pistone & Richard Woodley

Director                         Mike Newell

Cinematography            Peter Sova

Music                            Patrick Doyle

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

Production                     Mandalay Entertainment, Baltimore Pictures, Mark Johnson Productions

IMDb                                 7.8/10

Rotten Tomatoes                 88%

‘”Forget about it” is, like, if you agree with someone, you know, like "Raquel Welch is one great piece of ass. Forget about it!" But then, if you disagree, like "A Lincoln is better than a Cadillac? Forget about it!" You know? But then, it's also like if something's the greatest thing in the world, like, "Minghia! Those peppers! Forget about it!" But it's also like saying "Go to hell!" too. Like, you know, like "Hey Paulie, you got a one-inch pecker?" and Paulie says "Forget about it!" Sometimes it just means "Forget about it."’ Says Donnie/Joseph (Depp) when trying to explain to two FBI technicians what that famous phrase means. Depp plays an FBI agent who goes undercover in the New York mafia by winning the respect of aging hitman Lefty (Pacino). He finds himself relating with his new mafia friends more than the FBI agents, as the constant stress of being undercover weighs down on him and affects his professional and family life. He begins to make a genuine bond with Lefty, as well as taking part in multiple criminal activities. Depp and Pacino have a wonderful chemistry, Depp in particular surprised me with such a mature performance. The scenes in which he comes close to being found out are the best, punching a DA in the face at Miami airport, the beating up of a Japanese maître d’ when he refuses to remove his boots. You feel the tension through the screen. Both actors portray well the hopelessness of their situations. It’s one of the best American gangster movies I’ve seen, and I don’t think I’m being bold putting it up there with Scorsese’s classics. It’s a must-see, forget about it.

Acting                            3.5 / 4

Writing                           3.5 / 4

Cinematography                3 / 4

Music                             2.5 / 4

HWF rating               3.5 / 4