Rent Donnie Brasco (1997)

Double genius - Donnie Brasco review by CP Customer

One great star makes way for another in this awesome gritty study of gangland New York. Depp is brilliant as the undercover, understudy to the father he never had, Pacino and the supporting Michael Madsen as the Boss is suitable unnerving. Love it!!

A superior gangster movie based on a completely true story - Donnie Brasco review by Philip in Paradiso

Ageing gangster Benjamin ‘Lefty’ Ruggiero is introduced to a jewel thief named Donnie Brasco. Donnie succeeds in earning Lefty’s trust. Lefty teaches Donnie the rules of the Mafia and introduces him to several ‘made men’. Donnie actually is an FBI Special Agent, tasked with unmasking the New York-based crime family Lefty belongs to.

This is one of the best gangster movies I have ever seen. The acting is very good (including Al Pacino's), the atmosphere rings true, and there is tremendous suspense. The film is actually based on a completely true story: the 'real' Donnie Brasco was undercover within the Mafia for 6 years. Johnny Depp is excellent in his part as D Brasco.

The film gives a good idea of how the Mafia operates and when/ why it resorts to violence. It seems quite realistic to me. I strongly recommend it.

Mob Vérité (spoiler) - Donnie Brasco review by Steve

This true crime gangster picture is interesting because the mafia is portrayed with the realism of the insider, rather than the iconography of a film maker. It's based on a non-fiction account by Joseph Pistone of his six years as an FBI agent embedded in the New York mob.

Which led to hundreds of prosecutions. This is an account of the psychological trauma of his assignment and how much of his personal life he sacrificed. Yet even more fascinating is the portrayal of the mafia as an ill-educated, disorganised rabble with an ultra-short life expectancy. 

This is a suspenseful thriller which could almost be a comedy, but for the the violence. It is also an encounter between two celebrated Hollywood stars, with Johnny Depp as Pistone, and Al Pacino as the mafia drone he attaches himself to. Their father-son relationship is the heart of the film.

There's a decent '70s feel, with an excellent score. And it's well cast all the way down. The vision of the mob as inept sociopaths is convincing and we get to encounter professional killers who are not mythologised. Though we know how it turns out, because Pistone survived to write the book!