Donnie Brasco (Special Edition) | 
| Director: Mike Newell
Actors: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Paul Attanasio, Louis Digiaimo, Mike Newell
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.94
Buy Used: $2.53
You Save: $12.41 (83%)
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Rating:  162 reviews
Sales Rank: 1391
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 99
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 127 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 4.9 x 0.6
MPN: 043396052727
ISBN: 0767853482
UPC: 043396052727
EAN: 9780767853484
ASIN: B00004XPPB
Theatrical Release Date: February 28, 1997
Release Date: November 7, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp) is an FBI mole who integrates 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 protoge and places real trust in him. The two men form a friendship--and a criminal partnership--that jeopardizes 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).
Amazon.com
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 Brasco is like a de- romanticized, de-mythologized version of The Godfather. It offers an uncommonly detailed, privileged glimpse inside the world of organized crime from the perspective of the little guys at the bottom of Mafia hierarchy rather than from the kingpins at the top. Donnie Brasco is not only one of the great modern-day gangster movies to put in the company of The Godfather films andGoodFellas, but it is also one of the great undercover police movies--arguably surpassing Serpico and Prince of the City in 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 protege like a son. (Pacino really sinks into this guy's skin and polyester slacks, and creates his freshest, most fully realized 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 Funeral and the gritty, true crime melodrama Dance with a Stranger. --Jim Emerson Stills from Donnie Brasco (click for larger image) Beyond Donnie Brasco on Amazon.com 
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| Customer Reviews: Read 157 more reviews...
 "I'm not like them---I am them." June 24, 2009
J. H. Minde (Boca Raton, Florida and Brooklyn, New York)
How did I miss this film for twelve years? As a Pacino fan, a Johnny Depp fan, and a mobster movie addict, it's nothing short of amazing that I only watched DONNIE BRASCO for the first time this week.
My only complaint about DONNIE BRASCO is that it's too short and light. Another fifteen minutes of screen time would have deepened the characters immensely. DONNIE BRASCO doesn't do a great job of capturing the ambience of the late 70s, but it's a relatively minor flaw in an otherwise impressive picture. Overall, with its renditions of petty thievery, (breaking open parking meters for change), cheap shot extortion (putting muscle on Mom-and-Pop corner grocery stores for a few hundred bucks a week) and constant pointless but violent arguments, the timbre of DONNIE BRASCO reflects Mean Streets more than The Godfather.
There's no romance in DONNIE BRASCO's Mafia. Depp plays Federal Agent Joe Pistone, who is tasked with infiltrating the Bonnanno Family in late 1970s New York City. Using the alias "Donnie Brasco," Pistone befriends low-level torpedo Lefty Ruggerio (Al Pacino), who is permanently rooted near the bottom of the Family food chain. The dynamic "Brasco" however, soon attracts the attention of crew boss Sonny "Black" Napolitano (Michael Madsen), who begins moving Brasco (and himself) up through the ranks. A disappointed Lefty is left behind, although Brasco/Pistone tries mightily to maintain his links with Lefty if for no other reason than they've become friends.
The strain of leading his double life puts Pistone at terrible risk. His marriage collapses and his personal family life becomes a shambles. He begins to adopt street talk, to hit his wife, and to put his Family before his family. He is forced into committing minor crimes as part of his cover, and assists in chopping up and burying the bodies after a hit. He's recognized by a law-and-order colleague whom he punches out in order to protect himself. Still, there is much in the camaraderie of the Family that Pistone appreciates. Eventually, as he tells his wife, "I'm not like them---I am them." Just as he's about to become a made guy, the FBI swoops in and arrests everyone, shutting down his undercover operation.
Pistone's activities send roughly one hundred mobsters to jail, and earn him a medal, a commendation, and a $500.00 bonus check, and a deep ambivalence toward his work and his life.
After watching DONNIE BRASCO, I found myself questioning whether, given the crummy quality of the mob as portrayed, the risk and expense of breaking up "organized crime" was at all worth it. It seems like a lot of effort for a few dozen yards of chintz.
 Lefty And "Don The Jeweler" May 14, 2009
R. Webb (u.s.a.)
As real as it gets and the ultimate mafia film based on the real life story of undercover FBI agent Joseph Pistone. Two of Hollywood's great character actors go at it head to head in a life of syndicate crime in the big city, - Al Pacino and Johnny Depp give outstanding gangster performances as Lefty Ruggiero(Pacino) and Joe Pistone, alias - Don the jeweler(Depp),and Pistone's wife is played out brilliantly by Anne Heche, and a fine surrounding supporting cast gives us a realistic idea what it takes to survive in the mob and as a law enforcer playing on the inside of their deadly game. The real Joe Pistone was so caught up and involved with the mafia, Pistone was hesitant to leave ,of course now there's a big price on his head,a must see and own film,this special edition of DONNIE BRASCO is loaded with extras and an interview with Joe Pistone,1997,16x9 widescreen.
Pacino and Depp in an under-rated Mob movie May 6, 2009
Dennis W. Wong
Usually when one thinks of Mafia movies, only the name of Scorsese and Coppola come up, but not this movie directed by the Brit Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; The Awakening). Once again Pacino plays a mob figure but still it's quite different from Michael Corleone and Tony Montana--he's Lefty Ruggero, a small time loser/hood who hasn't quite achieved status in the mob, who has a girlfriend and a son who is a junkie. Into his world comes Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp) who poses as a jewel dealer but is in reality an FBI informer who insinuates himself into the mob when Lefty vouches for him. Not only that but Lefty in sense adopts him as his surrogate son by protecting and coaching him in the ways of the mob. More than just a gangland saga like "Goodfellows" or "The Godfather", "Donnie Brasco" is a intimate love story between two men which ends in tragedy and torment for both. For Pistone as "Donnie", it is that sooner or later he will betray Lefty and for Lefty, it's only a matter of time before he knows he'll be whacked. There are also solid portrayals by Michael Madsen, the late Bruno Kirby and James Russo as the wise guys. Also the Blu-ray is excellent in sound and visuals. Do pick this one up--you won't forgetabout it!!
Donnie Brasco Movie ~ DVD March 27, 2009
Tamera Connella (Dry Prong, LA USA)
WOW!!! To these two actors!! This movie really brings out Johnny Depps acting ability. If you like Goodfellows you will absolutely love this movie. Grab a bowl of popcorn, a soda, and get ready for the adventure it takes you one. Mafia at it's best.
 This is pretty much the worst movie I've ever seen March 24, 2009
Andrew W. Dennis
0 out of 9 found this review helpful
This was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The dialog was unbearable. I felt embarrassed for the director, actors, etc. as I watched it. I can't believe a piece of trash like this has gotten such good reviews. Aside from unrealistic plot points, idiotic characters, and ugly script, there are simple technical mistakes, including a camera flash going off during the scene when Madsen threatens to 'wack' Depp. Also there are several continuity errors through the film that made me literally cringe. Lastly, the score for the film is ridiculously overbearing through the entire film. It was as if it had been composed for some B horror flick. This is my advice, take Donnie Brasco and put it back on the shelf and find a copy of Good Fellas if you want to see a great mob film.GoodFellas
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