Donnie Brasco (1997)
Front Cover Actor
Al Pacino Lefty Ruggiero
Johnny Depp Donnie Brasco/Joe Pistone
Michael Madsen Sonny Black
Bruce "Bruno" Kirby, Jr. Nicky
James Russo Paulie
Anne Heche Maggie Pistone
Robert Miano Sonny Red
Brian Tarantina Bruno
Gerry Becker Dean Blandford
Zeljko Ivanek Tim Curley
Al Pacino Benjamin 'Lefty' Ruggerio
Johnny Depp Joseph D. Pistone/Donnie Brasco
Michael Madsen Dominick 'Sonny Black' Napolitano
Bruno Kirby Nicky Santora
Robert Miano Alphonse 'Sonny Red' Indelicato
Brian Tarantina Bruno 'Whack-Whack' Indelicato
Movie Details
Genre Crime; Drama; Thriller
Director Mike Newell
Writer Joseph D. Pistone; Richard Woodley
Language English
Audience Rating R
Running Time 2 hr 6 mins
Country USA
Color Color
Plot
This drama, about an undercover cop who learns the hidden dangers of working his way inside the mob, was based on a true story. Joe Pistone ( Johnny Depp ) is an FBI agent who is given an assignment to infiltrate the Mafia; calling himself Donnie Brasco, he befriends Lefty Ruggiero ( Al Pacino ), a low-level mob hit man whose personal life is in tatters. Lefty's marriage is falling apart, his son is a junkie, and his health is failing, which only adds to his growing disillusionment about having spent 30 years with the Mafia (and killing 26 people) with little to show for it. But in Donnie, Lefty sees someone who can succeed where he failed; he takes the young man under his wing, and under Lefty's tutelage Donnie quickly rises through the ranks of organized crime. However, the longer he plays the role of the gangster, the more Joe Pistone finds himself becoming Donnie Brasco in his increasingly rare off hours; it drives a wedge between himself and his wife ( Anne Heche ) and children, and Joe realizes that a break in character among the hoodlums he's come to know could mean a death sentence for himself and his family. Just as importantly, Joe has come to regard Lefty as a close and trusted friend, and he realizes that when the day comes where he has to turn in his Mob associates, he'll be ending Lefty's life as surely as if he put a slug in his head himself. The supporting cast includes Michael Madsen as Sonny, Lefty's boss, and Bruno Kirby as Nicky, one of Sonny's henchmen. The real life Joe Pistone today lives under an assumed name, with a $500,000 contract on his life still in effect. — Mark Deming
Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 280
In Collection Yes
Purchase Date 8/2/2003
Tape Label 96
Product Details
Format VHS
Region Region 1
Release Date 2003
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Links
Internet Movie Database