A well developed subplot deals with the difficulties of Donnie's home life and tells this part of the story with a realism I have not seen before. You empathize with the wife and kids, and yet Depp transfers the feeling of being trapped so that you can understand both sides. Ultimately, Donnie recognizes and resents his transformations. I am them. A poignant, but funny vignette has Joe and Maggie seeking counseling to avoid divorce.
Therapists lack training on dealing with the stress caused by being an undercover cop.
Their inept therapist gives them lectures full of jargon that are so far off base that they border on parody. The script is highly polished. Director Mike Newell's skill can be seen throughout. He does not excuse the horrors of Lefty's profession, but he has a deft sense of when to back off. This can be seen in potentially the most horrific act of violence in the picture.