Very Intense & Brutal Crime Story With Pacino The Main Attraction

Rating: 7/10 (23 September 2008)

Al Pacino is riveting, as usual, in the co-lead role of "Benjamin 'Lefty' Ruggerio." To me, he was the highlight of this gangster movie. He played a bad guy but one the viewer could sympathize with, and sad to say - that's just plain wrong. "Lefty" murdered something like 26 people, and brags about it several times in the film......and we're supposed to feel sorry for him? Well,
Pacino is so good actor, he pulls it off, Johnny Depp, meanwhile, was okay but I just never felt he was right for this part. He's a great actor, and maybe I'm just used to him playing strange roles instead of an undercover cop. In other words, his character wasn't convincing to me. Having said that. however, I thought he and Pacino's characters played off each other very well. The relationship between the two was outstanding to watch develop. It also contributed largely to the depressing ending as Lefty finds out Donnie's true identity.
This is frightening film for several reasons, mainly the tension of seeing if undercover agent "Donnie Brasco/Joe Pistone" will succeed or be brutally exposed and killed by a ruthless band of gangsters, led by the ultra-violent "Johnny Black." Michael Madsen plays the latter. Is there an actor who plays so many brutal characters, effectively, as Madsen? The story is shocking in parts for its violence (i.e. the Asian restaurant scene) and is extremely profane throughout, so be warned if that is an issue with you.
This is not a film that will leave a good taste with you, especially with the downer of an ending.....but, hey, that's life. It's also about 15 minutes too long. We had the stereotypical cop-marriage woes soap opera parts, too, which could have been eliminated. Also, the character of the head FBI guy Mr. Pistone dealt with was ludicrous. Leave it to Hollywood to make someone of governmental/police authority one of the most unlikable guys in the film.
Still, if you like "Pacino, Depp," and the like, you should be entertained my this based-on-a-true story film.