Donnie Brasco (Newell, 1997)

[madali]

Donnie Brasco (Newell, 1997)
IMDB Link

Probably the last major Italian Mafia movie and it is a good thing, because the genre was spent, and it shows in “Donnie Brasco”. It has a dream team of Al Pacino and Johnny Depp, but it offers nothing new, and it almost feels like the movie knows it.

Johnny Depp is undercover cop who infiltrates a mafia gang, befriends one of them (Al Pacino), is part of the gang, and of course, the rest we all know. Betrayals, a troubled marriage, stress on the cop, and so on. It is based on a true story, but what does it matter? A few minutes reading on the real story shows the movie has taken enough liberties, which is pointless, when you take a real story, and just turn it into your typical mafia movie.

It’s not that bad, but it has nothing to offer. We have enough Mafia movies to look back on, and I’m not sure why someone would want to pick this up. What’s even more annoying about the movie is how much they focus the filmmakers give to the way they talk. Every word is “wacking” someone, or calling someone “a wise guy”, or “forgetaboutit”. This is a Mafia movie, and the filmmaker sure as fuck doesn’t want you to forgetaboutit.

I guess, you can watch it if you already watched “Godfather” and “Goodfellas” a million times, and are in the mood for some Pacino/Depp love. There are probably a dozen girls somewhere on the internet that will squeal when Al Pacino tells Johnny Depp that he loves him. Fucking internet.

3/5

[animatedude]

man the story behind the making of this meh movie is more interesting than the movie itself and it makes you appreciate it more! get this:

-while the movie looks like another mediocre Goodfellas copycat , it was actually in the works before Goodfellas came out, at some point Tom Cruise+Al Pacino were set to star with Stephen Frears set to direct! now THAT would've been a great movie.

-Mike Newell was picked to direct because he's just done the then very successful "Four Weddings and a Funeral", now that's just funny.

-Joe Pesci was the first choice for Nicky but after the release of Goodfellas the idea gradually faded.


i understand maybe all the italian mafia ppl have the same or similar lifestyles but i just don't understand why all the italian mafia movies have to be the same?!