Depp, Madsen and Pacino... How Can This Possibly Go Wrong?

Rating: 8/10 (16 August 2006)

Donnie Brasco is the true (or at least mostly true) story of FBI agent Joseph Pistone undercover in the Bonanno crime family in the early 1980s. Exactly what you expect to happen in a mafia family does happen.
At first, the film was nothing special... the fact it was "real" meant that it had some of the more sensational things I have seen in other mob movies missing. But, this is made up for in the second half when Brasco gets to the higher ranks. So, if you are bored at first... wait it out.
Al Pacino is golden as always. He simply can do no wrong. Sure, you think "Gigli" sucked (and you are not alone in thinking this) but I will tell you that he was the crown jewel of that film (even more than my man Christopher Walken). In this film, he is a little more washed up than in other roles, but still very menacing in his own way.
Johnny Depp? Sure, he has made a mistake or two (I am still not sold on "Secret Window" or some of his later work with Tim Burton), but this is not one of them. Not only is he fantastic as Brasco, his acting is convincing enough that I might not even have recognized him as Depp if I was not aware of the fact. Well played, Mr. Depp.
Michael Madsen, a godsend. "Trail of a Killer" and "Reservoir Dogs" are both Madsen goldmines, and this is another... "Kill Bill" a little less so. Ignore "Free Willy", it is films like this that Madsen really shines in.
Worth a watch if you like gangster films or historic films... or both, I guess. Quite a delightful piece of cinema.