Am I Brasco Or Pistone

Rating: 8/10 (16 May 2019)

Newell helms one of the best crime dramas based on true events in recent memory. This film has excellent direction, screenplay, cinematography, settings, costume, soundtrack and acting. The entire cast deliver superlative performances. Depp and Pacino in particular are superb and command the screen. The plot revolves around undercover FBI Agent Joe Pistone who infiltrates one of the major New York mafia families. He lives life as Donnie Brasco. While undercover Brasco develops a relationship with mafia hit man "Lefty" Ruggiero in order to get deeper within the organization. Soon enough Brasco and Lefty develop a real life friendship. This ultimately puts Brasco in a life and death choice between doing his job or honoring his friendship. The plot is gritty, intense, violent, captivating, insightful, duplicitous and has a cathartic ending. This film is outstanding in scrutinizing the lines that get blurred between friendship and justice when a human being is forced to live two separate identities. There are so many memorable scenes and quotes in this film. My favorite scene is when Lefty is telling his wife he is heading out To meet someone and he leaves all his jewelry behind. To this day you'll hear fans quote lines such as, "I never said you were a rat. You's my best friend". This is a a timeless classic and one of the very best in it's genre.