IMDb >
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsDonnie Brasco (1997) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 7) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
28 February 1997 (USA)
more
Tagline:
Donnie Brasco. Based On A True Story. more
Plot:
An FBI undercover agent infilitrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the mafia life to the expense of his regular one. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Mafia
|
FBI
|
Undercover
|
New York City
|
Marriage
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 2 wins
&
8 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(49 articles)
Alan Greenspan Joins Cork Media Panel
(From IFTN. 4 November 2009, 11:26 PM, PST)
International Trailer: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
(From HeyUGuys. 3 November 2009, 2:44 AM, PST)
(From IFTN. 4 November 2009, 11:26 PM, PST)
International Trailer: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
(From HeyUGuys. 3 November 2009, 2:44 AM, PST)
User Comments:
The Biggest Mutt In The History Of The Mafia
more (179 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) more
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Donnie Brasco (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Brasco (Argentina) [es]
Donnie Brasco (Portugal) [pt]
Donnie Brasco (Italy) [it]
Donnie Brasco (Greece) [el]
Donnie Brasco (France) [fr]
Donnie Brasco (Spain) [es]
Donnie Brasco (Slovenia) [sl]
Donnie Brasco (Croatia) [hr]
Fake (Japan: English title) [en]
Köstebek (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Krycí jméno Donnie Brasco (Czech Republic) [cs]
Operaatio Donnie Brasco (Finland) [fi]
more
Brasco (Argentina) [es]
Donnie Brasco (Portugal) [pt]
Donnie Brasco (Italy) [it]
Donnie Brasco (Greece) [el]
Donnie Brasco (France) [fr]
Donnie Brasco (Spain) [es]
Donnie Brasco (Slovenia) [sl]
Donnie Brasco (Croatia) [hr]
Fake (Japan: English title) [en]
Köstebek (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Krycí jméno Donnie Brasco (Czech Republic) [cs]
Operaatio Donnie Brasco (Finland) [fi]
more
MPAA:
Rated R for some strong graphic violence, pervasive strong language and brief nudity and sexuality.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
127 min | 147 min (extended cut)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:R (certificate #34334) |
Norway:15 (DVD rating) |
Iceland:16 |
Singapore:M18 |
South Korea:15 |
New Zealand:R16 |
Argentina:16 |
Australia:MA |
Belgium:KT |
Canada:18A (video rating) |
Chile:18 |
Finland:K-16 |
France:U |
Germany:16 (bw) |
Mexico:B |
Netherlands:16 |
Norway:18 |
Portugal:M/16 |
Spain:18 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:18
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Lefty's real name is Benjamin which, in Hebrew, means "son of the right hand".
more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: Many '90s models cars and trinkets visible.
more
Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Shark Tale (2004)
more
Soundtrack:
Don't Bring Me Down
more
FAQ
What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Extended Cut?more
more (179 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Donnie Brasco (1997) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Goodfellas | Casino | American Gangster | Scarface | Carlito's Way |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Crime section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |




With only one real scene of violence and mayhem in the film, Donnie Brasco relies far more on character development in a story of two men and the planned betrayal of one by another in the line of duty.
Johnny Depp plays real life FBI undercover agent Joe Pistone who infiltrates the Bonano crime family through the good offices of Lefty Ruggiero, a small time Mafia button man played by Al Pacino. During the five years undercover, Pistone who used the alias of Donnie Brasco was responsible for about 200 federal indictments because of the work he did. It took a terrible strain on him and his family as the film so aptly demonstrates.
It must have been like old home week for Johnny Depp who made his acting bones playing a youthful undercover cop in the television series 21 Jump Street. But the difference between Officer Tom Hanson going undercover for a couple of weeks at some high school and agent Pistone living and working with the wise guys for five years afraid of being found out is the difference between Donald Duck and Donald Trump.
Depp's performance as Pistone/Brasco is conveyed as much by body language and closeups as with dialog. He'd like very much to return to his wife and three daughters and live a normal life, but the demands of the job make it impossible. According to Wikipedia's article on Pistone he was uniquely qualified for his undercover assignment having lived and grown up among wise guys in New Jersey. He was familiar with all the Mafia culture and could blend in easily. The strain shows on him in his scenes with wife Anne Heche, only someone with a real gift for acting could make those scenes so real.
Depp is matched by Al Pacino as the luckless Lefty Ruggiero. In the Mafia code he vouches for Depp and if Depp betrays trust in any way, Pacino's marked for death.
Lefty Ruggiero is a hired killer with as he boasts 27 contract kills to his credit. Yet he's also a family man with a lot of problems as is Depp. Even though the man is in fact evil, Pacino does make him a likable sort. It's why Depp is dreading the day he's out from undercover because it means certain death for a man who's grown to be his friend.
Except when the crew that Depp and Pacino are part of do ambush a rival group before in fact they do it to them, Donnie Brasco is a fairly non violent film for a gangster story. Donnie Brasco emphasizes character development and a good script as opposed to bloody mayhem.
I think you'll like the story about a man who turned a friend into the biggest mutt in the history of the Mafia.