DONNIE BRASCO
US, 1998, 124 minutes, Colour.
Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen, Anne Heche, Bruno Kirby, James Russo, Paul Giamatti, Time Blake Nelson, Gretchen Moll, Zeljko Ivanek.
Directed by Mike Newell.
We have had many Mafia films from The Godfather trilogy to Martin Scorsese films like Goodfellas and Casino. There seems to be endless fascination. Sometimes the films create a mythology of struggles between good and evil. At other times the films want to show us the ugliness and violence. Donnie Brasco, which is one of the best, is not so overtly violence as the others though there is one grim sequence. Rather it is a character study, a story of a young FBI undercover agent who penetrates the Mafia but develops an emotional bond with the man he has been sent to destroy while alienating himself from his wife and daughters. He has to make choices between duty and feelings.
Al Pacino gives one of his best and restrained performances as the Mafia lieutenant who has not gone up through the ranks and who sees in his bright young protege a chance to make something of himself at last. Johnny Depp brings quiet authority and emotional intensity to the agent. It is all based on a true story - yet makes us wonder what motivates the agent to sacrifice so much of his life in a quest for justice.
A strong cast with Anne Heche as the wife, Michael Madsen as the local boss – and Paul Giamatti and Tim Blake Nelson as FBI agents as Gretchen Mol as a girlfriend.
Thoughtful Mafia drama.
1. A true story? An American story? Of the police, the FBI, the Mafia, undercover work and its effect? The finale and the number of arrests and cases made by Joe Pistone?
2. New York City in the 1970s, 1980s? The status of the Mafia, the nature of the gangs at that time, rivalries, ambitions, power, brutality, drugs and money? Clubs?
3. The re-creation of New York City, Brooklyn, ordinary homes, FBI officers, the streets, the gathering places for the Mafia? The contrast with Miami, son and luxury? The musical score?
4. The cast?
5. Johnny Depp and his interpretation of Joe Pistone? Pistone’s awards from the FBI? His three years undercover, immersing himself in this world, a way of life, a manner, language? The need for contacts with the FBI officers and for debriefing, the planning? His getting angry with the contacts, making his own decisions, absorbing the Mafia code? His relationship with his wife, with the children, his absences, silence, disappearing and re-appearing? Absent for the first Communion, the reaction of the little girl? His wife wanting a divorce, going to the counselling session and his angry reactions? The psychological consequences of working undercover?
6. Al Pacino as Lefty, an old time gangster, his record of 27 killings, his ruthless attitude, his loyalty to the Mafia? His home life, quiet, wife gone, girlfriend, watching the television, his son as a drug addict? His being comfortable with Donnie, the affinity between the two, shared experiences, talking, advice, invitations to his home? Donnie as an alternate son?
7. The Mafia groups in New York? Sonny Red and Sonny Black? Sonny Black and his close followers, their personalities, Lefty at home with them? Violence, drug deals? But at a dead end in New York?
8. Donnie and his suggestions about Miami, the plan, getting the money from the FBI to go, setting up Richie as the contact, going to the old club, the plan for development, deceiving Sonny Black coming with his entourage, meeting the local chiefs, dining them, the development of the club? The arrival of the police, the break-up, the arrests? Donnie and his cover story that the police were not paid off?
9. Donnie and the meetings with the agents in Miami, the portrayal of the two men listening to the conversations? The role of the FBI, the growing concern about Donnie?
10. The dangers for Joe, moving in and out of these worlds, his having to be a smooth talker, covering up about the scam and the shakes and the boat?
11. Joe’s wife, the officers coming to the house, hearing the truth? Her reactions?
12. Sonny Red, his men, the plan is to eliminate the opposition, the set up in the house, the brutal massacre of Sonny Red and his group? Sonny Black and his plans?
13. The suspicion of betrayal, the epithet of rat, Joe having to cover himself, his not being a suspect? The order for Lefty to kill the son of Sonny Red, going to the boat, Donnie and his giving the information, his being forced to go along, Lefty and the article about the scam? The target in the sites and the FBI making the arrests?
14. The arrests, Lefty and his bewilderment? His getting out? The group and their reluctance to suspect Donnie?
15. Donnie, reunited with his wife, the awards? The final information about how many arrests his work led to? And he is living with his wife in witness protection? With a price tag on his head?
