Gangster revist:   Donnie Brasco

by: Brian Korte

"You're a made guy now Donnie. Jesus Christ couldn't touch you, because I represent you."
--Lefty

Breaking away from the traditional gangster flicks set in the 1920's, "Donnie Brasco" is a true story about a fed in the family of the '70's. One of the leaders of an undercover FBI sting operation, the tough agent Joseph Pistone (played by Johnny Depp) assumes the role of Donnie Brasco, a New York Jeweler. His mission was to infiltrate the New York mafia family via Lefty, a washed-up, name-dropping buttonman, reminiscent of better days, and resentful of his present situation. (Lefty is played by Al Pacino.)

A weak subplot ensues as Donnie struggles between keeping his new friend Lefty alive by hiding his true identity, and the struggle to maintain his role as husband and father at home.

The story concept is great, but the movie stinks, in my opinion. Johnny Depp is a great actor normally. Al Pacino and Bruno Kirby aren't too shabby themselves. In this movie though, they work horribly together.

If you watch this on video, check out the crappy panning and scanning they use to crop the movie to fit a TV screen. I saw this in the theater originally, and watched it again...the more I watch it, the more I don't like it. The music in this flick sucks. "Donnie Brasco" is based off of the book, written by the real-life Pistone. That is worth looking in to. Maybe I'll read that.

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