a top notch gangster flick(Depp does it again)

Rating: 9/10 (24 January 2007)

now this,is a good movie.It is based on the Book co written by Joseph.D Pistone and Richard Woodley,chronicling undercover FBI agent Pistone and his life as "Donnie Brasco".Brasco/Pistone infiltrates the New York mafia,and befriends "Lefty Ruggiero",(Al Pacino)becoming close to him in time.Donnie collects information for the FBI,and over time his mob persona begins to assert itself.as a result,his family life falls apart and Donnie faces a dilemma.if he stays undercover,he risks being found out and executed.if he is pulled out,"Lefty" will be executed for allowing him to infiltrate the organization.Johhny Depp plays Brasco/Pistone and delivers a very compelling performance.Pacino plays "Lefty" and is equally believable.this is the 2nd gangster movie i have seen,(Casino being the first,and lesser of the 2)and i must say,i am impressed.Anne Heche plays Maggie Pistone and does very well as the wife who sees her husband less often than the mobsters.her role is not that large,but is important to the movie.others in the film include James woods, Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, and the great(but very underrated) actress Gretchen Mol has a small role. all deliver excellent performances.but it is Depp's performance as Brasco that anchors this movie.his performance is what sells the story. "Donnie Brasco" gets a strong 9/10