Search - Donnie Brasco [Special Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Questionable for Children, Profanity Movie Release: 1997 DVD Release: 11/07/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 7 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Total Copies: 7 Genres: Crime, Crime Drama, Gangster Film See Also: Donnie Brasco, Donnie Brasco [Extended Cut], Donnie Brasco [Blu-ray], Donnie Brasco [Widescreen] [Includes Digital Copy]

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 Joe 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-dollar contract on his life still in effect. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Johnny Depp - Donnie Brasco/Joe Pistone
Al Pacino - Lefty Ruggiero
Michael Madsen - Sonny Black
Bruno Kirby - Nicky
James Russo - Paulie
Anne Heche - Maggie Pistone

Columbia TriStar has put together an impressive DVD edition of this Mob drama. The picture looks great, presented in an anamorphic widescreen format, preserving the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The sound, offered in Dolby Digital 5.0, is surprisingly effective, given the quiet tone of the film. The ambience of the city streets and social clubs comes across very clearly and is well-defined. Viewers can browse through a handful of deleted scenes. While some are rightfully left on the cutting room floor, others (such as the expansion of the "pet lion" subplot) are very enjoyable and could have fit well into the final version. These scenes are offered with an optional commentary from director Mike Newell, who also provides a feature-length commentary track. This is less impressive, as Newell spends more time watching the film than talking about it. The disc is redeemed, however, by a featurette entitled "Donnie Brasco: Out From the Shadows," which in addition to showing a great deal of behind-the-scenes footage, includes interviews with real-life FBI agent Joe Pistone, who is played by Depp in the film. Pistone provides a great look at the real people that inspired the movie and allows the viewer to better appreciate the performances. Also included is the original promotional featurette. This is little more than an extended trailer, but has some behind-the-scenes shots that are worth looking at. Lastly, the viewer gets a photo gallery, talent files, and trailers (for Donnie Brasco and similarly themed films). For those who missed Donnie Brasco during its theatrical run, this DVD gives offers a second chance. ~ Jeremy Brown, All Movie Guide