Interested in Mob films?

Rating: 10/10 (25 September 2005)

This movie, is one of the best Mob films that we have today. While The Godfather provides us with a romantic view into the lives of Mafia bosses living in America and the movie Goodfellas gives us a different view of the mafia, showing us that they can be self destructive, and not always as organized as we think they are. There are many other Mob films out there, yet most of them aren't as well directed and written as the true story of Donnie Brasco, with the exception of the two latter mentioned films. I have seen them all, and i consider Donnie Brasco as number four, in the list of movies about the Italian Mafia.
1)The Godfather movies 2)Goodfellas 3)Casino 4)Donnie Brasco 5)Gotti
That is the list that i have formulated, after viewing each of these films several times. The Godfather is first as it has the best story, proving that a fictional story is always better than a true story. As it is the only movie on my list that is completely fictitious. While the Godfather is obviously based on non-fiction, the story is based on the fictional book "The Godfather", by Mario Puzo. As for Goodfellas, and Casino, these two films were directed by Martin Scorsese and were written by Nicholas Pileggi. These movies have also great acting, provided by Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, and Frank Vincent who are excellent at the job of delivering great Mafioso impersonations, and are based on true stories.
Now, Gotti is a documentary movie, solely based on the rise and fall of New York Italian Gambino mob boss John Gotti. I recommend you watch it if you are a fan of the Mob.
Then finally we have Donnie Brasco, starting Al Pacino, and Johnny Depp. Such a strange combination of actors for a movie like this one, the true story of Joe Pistone, an FBI agent played by Johnny Depp, who infiltrates the Mob. Al Pacino, one of the greatest actors of our time, plays "Lefty " Ruggiero, a wise guy Mafioso who is determined to become more powerful in the Italian Mob. However, he has a hard time getting respect from his superiors, as they see him as an old man with Testicular cancer. Its quite a touching story, if you like the Italian Mafia, and smile when they succeed, as their success will not be the main point of this true story.