Highest Rated Review by the Community
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community Dec 26, 2004
Pros: Pacino, Depp, Screenplay, Direction, Cinematography
Cons: Not more introspective mob movies like this
Summary: "A wise guy's always right. Even when he's wrong, he's right." Lefty Ruggiero Donnie Brasco is the story of an FBI agent who penetrated the inner circle of the famed New York Italian underworld. The real agent was named Joseph Pistone ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Sep 25, 2010
Pros: Watchable from start to finish, blood and gore, massive use of the f-bomb.
Cons: Some visual inaccuracies, nicknames of characters can get confusing.
Summary: Writing a review of Donnie Brasco should be a simple task. It's a mafia themed movie about an FBI agent that works undercover to bring down organized crime. If it were that simple to sum up this would be all I would need to type. ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Aug 12, 2010
Pros: Gripping story, humor, violence and crime make action. Pacino and Depp give story heart.
Cons: 185 Fbombs, four cold blooded murders, and dismemberments
Summary: Donnie Brasco (1997) Directed by Mike Newell Based on true events."All my life I've tried to be the good guy, the guy in the white f***ing hat. And for what? For nothing. I'm not becoming like them; I am them." Joe Pistone, or ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Nov 17, 2008
Pros: excellent depiction of the relationships involved, terrific acting by Depp and Pacino, supporting cast, cinematography
Cons: violence is in the background and might have a feeling of being glossed over
Summary: I doubt that the American cinema has been more fascinated of any subject than it has of the mafia. The way it’s often been portrayed, you would think there were wall-to-wall gangsters all over the Northeast, especially in New York ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Oct 10, 2005
Pros: As a film about two men, each working in opposite directions, this one is unparalleled.
Cons: Familiar story of the infiltrator, mixed with Death of a Salesman storyline.
Summary: It pays to have a sense of where you are, in the development of a genre. Like anything else, a genre has a life cycle which it goes through before it ends up moribund, drops off the face of the earth, and comes back again - to entertain a whole new ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Oct 20, 2001
Pros: Two high-caliber performances, a remarkable script and gritty sense of realism.
Cons: Anne Heche's whining; some mildly clichéd moments.
Summary: It was a match made in heaven. Like black and white in a cookie (yes, that’s Seinfeld reference, if anyone is keeping count). Abbot and Costello. Laurel and Hardy. James Bond and his flavor-of-the-week girl. I could sit here naming names all day, but ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 13, 2001
Pros: acting, music, al pacino
Cons: some will find the violence to gory
Summary: Donnie brasco is an excellent movie. If you like mob movies, this is an excellent addition to your collection. If you don't like mob movies, you should still give this one a try. It has more than great acting and typical mob violence. At its core, it ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jan 3, 2001
Pros: Al pacino in another classic, A true gangsters tale
Cons: Not many moments of high drama
Summary: Al Pacino has played more gangsters than any other major movie star I can think of. For any other actor, this would be typecasting, but Pacino has managed to make each variation on this theme unique in some way. In Donnie Brasco he continues that trend. ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Dec 29, 2000
Pros: I like the actors
Cons: too violent
Summary: I saw this movie because my husband could not find the romantic comedy that I wanted and he knew we both like Al Pacino. So, he rented it. Unfortunately, he had to work and I ended up watching most of it by myself.
You know those movies that ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Dec 9, 2000
Pros: Depp's amazing performance, some nice atmosphere created by Newell (director), and a very feature film-worthy true story
Cons: Hmm, well, I don't know. even if I feel you don't like mobster films, you can appreciate this film nonetheless
Summary:
Donnie Brasco, starring Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Michael Madsen, Anne Heche and Bruno Kirby. Directed by Mike Newell. Rated R for sometimes explicit violence, language and brief nudity.
* * * * * out of five
Films ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Nov 10, 2000
Pros: Outstanding lead acting, excellent ensemble cast, Intelligent script that develops characters well and provides new insights into the Mafia
Cons: One lame and overused joke, overuse of the "predator" motif
Summary:
Donnie Brasco may not have the epic qualities of Coppola’s Godfather series, nor the dynamic construction of Scorcese’s Goodfellas, but this under rated Mafia film ranks at the top when it comes to emotional intensity, character ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Nov 5, 2000
Pros: I liked it.
Cons: Let me mull this one over...
Summary: Charlie Chaplin, the most famous silent comedian who ever lived, once spoke, "Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot." I used to think this was a clever observation, until I tried applying it to a film that's very ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Oct 24, 2000
Pros: It is a true life story
Cons: none
Summary: This movie was such a great story. It portrayed a FBI agent possing as a person in the mafia. Joe Pistone is his real name, but his mafia name is Donnie Brasco. Sonny is the person that discovered Donnie. He brought him into the mafia. Donnie got to ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Sep 16, 2000
Pros: excellent acting, script, and direction
Cons: none
Summary: "Donnie Brasco", directed by Mike Newell, is an absolutely brilliant film. A combination of compelling storytelling, stunning acting performances, and graceful direction of a potentially worn-out subject makes it a must see for drama fans and ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jul 25, 2000
Pros: Johnny Depp, story
Cons: Lack of closure, predictable
Summary: "Donnie Brasco" falls into that unfortunate category of true stories that seem like a great movie idea, but sadly are not. The real life story of F.B.I. agent Joe Pistone leaves little room to be unpredictable, and no character for which to ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jul 10, 2000
Pros: cast, directing, real-life drama
Cons: can be a little slow at times
Summary: I have long been a fan of mob films. However, I remember when this came out on video, I for some reason thought that it was the same type as "Analyze This", a weak attempt at comedy mixed with the seriousness of Mafia life. However, upon ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
May 3, 2000
Pros: Great acting from just about everybody
Cons: Not sutible for young audiences
Summary: I’m not a huge fan of Mafia movies. The only reason I’ve watched the ones I have is that I’m Italian. Therefore, I wasn’t too enthusiastic when I sat down to watch Donnie Brasco. I would have been if I had known what a great movie this would turn out to ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Apr 20, 2000
Pros: Incredible true story, Acting, Pacino + Depp
Cons: none whatsoever
Summary: "Donnie Brasco" is much different than your typical mob film like "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas" because it involves elements of life that we, as average citizens, are more familiar with. While other classics such as ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 21, 2000
Pros: It's Al Pacino baby! Awesome story
Cons: Isn't true to the real story, watch the movie before you read the book
Summary: This has to be one of the best mob movies ever. Not only does it show some sweet gunplay scenes, but it also shows a different side to gangsters than most movies show. This movie has taken Pacino out of his usual roles as the main guy with everything ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 12, 2000
Pros: Acting acting acting
Cons: Subject matter
Summary: Donnie Brasco is on network TV tonight (3/12/00) and even thusly sanitized, I cannot recommend it. While Depp and Pacino turn in what I think are Oscar-caliber performances, it simply, in George Harrison's words, is "All Too Much."
... read more
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