Another Spoke in the Wheel

Rating: 8/10 (14 October 2008)

"Posing as jewel broker Donnie Brasco, FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone (Johnny Depp) is granted entrance into the violent mob family of aging hit-man Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino). When his personal and professional lives collide, Pistone jeopardizes his marriage, his job, his life, and, ultimately, the gangster mentor he has come to respect and admire," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis. The film is "based on a true story," and begins its action in November 1978.
The old "lawman infiltrating the gangsters" storyline is really nothing new; but, Mike Newell's direction, and the great characterizations, are so good, you should become engrossed. Mr. Newell and writer Paul Attanasio focus on the relationship between young, upwardly mobile agent Depp and middle-aged Mafia middleman Pacino. Though there is, at least, one stomach churning (and vomit inducing) scene, "Donnie Brasco" is mostly a character study.
Depp is excellent as the young man who both poses as, and becomes "Donnie Brasco"; you can see the "Joe" character succumb to, and struggle against, possession by the "Donnie" disguise. Pacino is also excellent; he struggles with his age, receding position in the "family", and realization he may have made the mistake of his life (in trusting Depp).
The relationship between Depp and Pacino is, perhaps, a little too vague. In my opinion, Depp sees Pacino's "Lefty" as a life he may have had, if luck and life had been different; and, Pacino sees Depp's "Donnie" as the failed promise of his lost youth. Depp and Pacino are award-worthy; and, Anne Heche and Michael Madsen are supporting standouts. Ms. Heche's role, as Depp's increasingly neglected wife, is especially important. She explains her distance well, "I pretend I'm a widow."
******** Donnie Brasco (2/28/97) Mike Newell ~ Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Anne Heche, Michael Madsen