Great Movie with even better Performances

Rating: 9/10 (3 June 2005)

This is in my opinion one of the most under-rated movies of all time. It's certainly up there with the best 'ganster/mafia' films.
Some may say that it strays too much away from the 'real life' story it was based on, but I look at it as a stand alone movie and judge it as a movie in it's own right - and it is one of my favourites as a result.
***********Minor spoilers below*********************** Johnny Depp is great as 'Donnie', and Pacino is also great as the pathetic 'Lefty'. The real beauty of this movie is the relationship between these 2 characters, some great chemistry between Pacino and Depp produces some very believable and poignant moments in the movie.
I felt a great deal of sympathy for 'Lefty' as he sees his protégé overtake him and his ambitions within the mafia ranks, and also for 'Donnie' who sees his under-cover alter-ego strangle his 'real world' family self....you can feel the stress him and his family are under.
This movie does not glamorise the underworld (ala Goodfellas), it concentrates more on the mafia 'low-lifes' - as a result feels so much more Real to me.
*************spoilers end******************************** Worth watching if you want to see a slightly different take on the mafia, and for the performances of Depp and Pacino.