I'd die with you Donnie *spoilers*

Rating: Null/10 (8 September 2004)

*SPOILER ALERT* Based on the explosive true life story of Special Agent Joseph D. Pistone who lived undercover in the Mafia for six years. Aging and down on his luck mobster Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero (Al Pacino)takes on Donnie Brasco (Johnny Depp), an orphaned jewel thief and brings him into his world, teaches him the rules and loves him like his son yet never for a moment suspects the truth. That Donnie is NOT a gangster but an FBI Agent named Joe Pistone whose job is to infiltrate the Bonnano Crime Family and bring it to its knees. But Joe didn't count on becoming real friends with Lefty and becoming part of his world. His undercover work gathers damning evidence against the syndicate however he slowly becomes entangled in their web of betrayal and immersed in their crimes which include drug dealing, hi-jacking and yes murder. When the boss is killed, Donnie comes under the thumb of Sonny Black (Michael Madsen), a charismatic and cold blooded captain who runs his crew with the sole purpose of propelling him to boss status, allowing him to run the family. Joe's wife Maggie (Anne Heche) becomes more and more distant from him as he climbs the ladder of La Cosa Nostra and becomes one of them. When four brutal murders are committed by the Sonny Black faction, Joe realizes that he has to leave the mob before he is killed. But if he does, they will kill Lefty for letting him get close to them. Operation Donnie Brasco resulted in the largest prosecution of a Mafia family in history and a $500,000 open contract on Pistone's life and his family. Hollywood being Hollywood took some liberties with the actual story but it's still a great watch. Top notch performances by Pacino, Depp, Michael Madsen, James Russo, Bruno Kirby, Anne Heche, and Robert Miano. May have been the best performances from Depp and Madsen you are likely to see and one of the top ten ever by Pacino. Best movie of 1997 ***** out of *****.