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Ro · 11-06-2008, 07:24 PM

The MacGuffins happily select, with their pick in the 18th round, for entry in the Wildcard #4 category:

Donnie Brasco

When they send for you, you go in alive, you come out dead, and it's your best friend that does it.

In the absence of a Crime/Gangster category, I felt it prudent to round out my team with a film of that ilk, and Donnie Brasco is possibly the most critically underrated movie of that genre in recent memory. It is constantly overlooked when discussing the best gangster movies of the last 30 years, and is a supremely involving and satisfying film.

The basic premise feels familiar- Depp is an undercover FBI agent who infiltrates the mob and befriends a gangster named Lefty. Great pains are taken by Donnie Brasco (Depp's new gangster alter ego) to ensure he gains the trust of Lefty, and is not "found out" by the very mafia family he rapidly ascends within. It is based on a true story detailed in Pistone's book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia.

Carried by a strong, understated performance by Depp and a brilliant, almost too easy bit of stylish acting by Pacino, Donnie Brasco distinguishes itself from many other gangster films of its era by focusing its attention on the emotional relationship between Lefty (Pacino) and and Joe/Donnie (Depp), and the evolution of the friendship and bond that develops between the two of them. Director Mike Newell handles the subject matter tremendously well, creating a sympathetic character in Pacino's Lefty, and deftly presenting the internal struggle Depp's "Donnie" goes through as his undercover assignment nears completion.

With only one true scene of gangster mayhem/violence, Donnie Brasco can't begin to compete with other popular gangster movies in that respect. But it doesn't have to- the tension created by Donnie's involvement in a world he knows nothing about is palpable, and perfectly accentuated by the exceptional acting of the two leads. When the climax hits, viewers feel conflicted because of the ease with which they have identified with Lefty, Donnie, and even the colorful world of crime and excess they are immersed in together. But its a satisfying feeling- one brought about by the compelling nature of the film. Donnie Brasco never fails to entertain me when I pop it in my DVD player, and is truly a wonderful, underappreciated film!

11-06-2008, 07:24 PM	#1644
Ro #1 Goaltender Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Kelowna Exp:	The MacGuffins happily select, with their pick in the 18th round, for entry in the Wildcard #4 category: Donnie Brasco When they send for you, you go in alive, you come out dead, and it's your best friend that does it. In the absence of a Crime/Gangster category, I felt it prudent to round out my team with a film of that ilk, and Donnie Brasco is possibly the most critically underrated movie of that genre in recent memory. It is constantly overlooked when discussing the best gangster movies of the last 30 years, and is a supremely involving and satisfying film. The basic premise feels familiar- Depp is an undercover FBI agent who infiltrates the mob and befriends a gangster named Lefty. Great pains are taken by Donnie Brasco (Depp's new gangster alter ego) to ensure he gains the trust of Lefty, and is not "found out" by the very mafia family he rapidly ascends within. It is based on a true story detailed in Pistone's book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia. Carried by a strong, understated performance by Depp and a brilliant, almost too easy bit of stylish acting by Pacino, Donnie Brasco distinguishes itself from many other gangster films of its era by focusing its attention on the emotional relationship between Lefty (Pacino) and and Joe/Donnie (Depp), and the evolution of the friendship and bond that develops between the two of them. Director Mike Newell handles the subject matter tremendously well, creating a sympathetic character in Pacino's Lefty, and deftly presenting the internal struggle Depp's "Donnie" goes through as his undercover assignment nears completion. With only one true scene of gangster mayhem/violence, Donnie Brasco can't begin to compete with other popular gangster movies in that respect. But it doesn't have to- the tension created by Donnie's involvement in a world he knows nothing about is palpable, and perfectly accentuated by the exceptional acting of the two leads. When the climax hits, viewers feel conflicted because of the ease with which they have identified with Lefty, Donnie, and even the colorful world of crime and excess they are immersed in together. But its a satisfying feeling- one brought about by the compelling nature of the film. Donnie Brasco never fails to entertain me when I pop it in my DVD player, and is truly a wonderful, underappreciated film! Last edited by Ro; 11-06-2008 at 10:56 PM.