Living under the tall shadows of better-known and/or more popular mobster movies like "Goodfellas," "Miller's Crossing," "The Godfather," "Scarface," "Once Upon A Time in America" and "Casino" (to name just a few) are dozens of lesser-known gangster flicks that, for one reason or another, never clicked with audiences. The critically-acclaimed 1997 gangster drama "Donnie Brasco," based on the real story of real-life FBI undercover agent Joe Pistone's years-long stint inside the mob during the 1970's, received Academy Award nominations and positive reviews before fading into home video obscurity soon after its release. Hey, what do you expect when you're opposite "Titanic" and "L.A. Confidential" in an Oscar race? The DVD format, thankfully, has since become the only way to experience "Donnie Brasco" the way it was meant to be experienced: uncut, commercial-free and at a methodical pace that makes its 127 min. running time just fly by. If you haven't done so yet please take our advice: see (and/or rent) "Donnie Brasco" ASAP and prepare to experience one of the best-acted and most emotionally wrenching stories about cops and robbers that you have ever seen. This one's a masterpiece from beginning to end
Most gangster dramas are either excuses for gratuitous set pieces of violence ("Casino," "Scarface," etc.) or go through the genre's clichés at a snail's pace. "Donnie Brasco" comes across more as a character study, a drama about the men that play a deadly game of life and death everyday as either criminals or undercover cops trying to nab the bad guys. Key to the movie's success are the performances of Johnny Depp and Al Pacino as Donnie Brasco and Lefty, who play up-and-comer gangster and mentor (respectively) with such low-key believability you can't believe it's Pacino that comes across as the more natural and restrained of the two. The last scene in which Lefty leaves his apartment to walk toward a certain death, in particular, is played with such pain and believability by Al that it ranks among my favorite Pacino movie scenes of all time (ahead of better-known scenes everyone knows from "Godfather" and/or "Scarface"). Johnny Depp, better known this day as the Judie Garland-type hero in "Pirates of the Caribbean," also comes across as so heavily invested into his dual roles of make-believe Donnie Brasco and real-life Joe Pistone (both of which are given prominence in the role) that you completely forget he's even there. If there ever was a movie that highlighted how much Depp has emerged as this generation's actor (the same way Pacino, Brando and Bogart were the leading men of their generation) "Donnie Brasco" is it.
The rest of the supporting performances are also dead on the money, but are unfortunately tied to the broad stereotypes associated with the roles they play: the weepy but loyal police wife (Anne Heche), the hothead crew leader (Michael Madsen's Sonny Black character), etc. Production design, wardrobe, cinematography and direction (by British subject Mike Newell, whose gone on to direct such unremarkable fare as the failed John Cusack vehicle "Pushing Tin") do a wonderful job deconstructing the 1970's period the movie is set on without glamorizing it. The heart and soul of the movie is the believability that Depp's Donnie Brasco character is really sliding deep into his make-believe role of a gangster out of loyalty to Lefty. It's amazing that the screenplay (by "Quiz Show" writer Paul Attanasio) manages to wring as many tears and heartbreak out what is, essentially, a non-sexual love affair between an old mobster at the end of his rope and a young impressionable cop that's still finding his way in life. The fact that everything is based on events that actually happened only heightens the power and drama of the proceedings. And even though it's not an excessively violent movie by gangster flick standards (though there's plenty of it when the plot demands it) "Donnie Brasco" is that rare mobster drama in which the threat of imminent harm from out of nowhere is felt more acutely because it rarely happens (and when it does is fast, brutal and cheap). What a masterpiece of understated emotions this movie is!
The Disc:
Originally released as a bare-bones edition, "Donnie Brasco" was thankfully re-released in 2001 as a single-disc Special Edition that doesn't seem to have made any compromises in order to sound/look as good as it should. The Widescreen Anamorphic (2:35:1) Video Transfer features no visible flaws other than a deliberate diffusion of color to emulate the lack of variety and options in its character's lives. This is a rare case in which making film stock look much less colorful than its time/place actually (those hipster early 70's) enhances the movie and works as a storytelling tool, not coming across as 'artsy' for the sake of being 'artsy' (like Mel Gibson's 1999 crime flick "Payback"). Similarly, "Donnie Brasco's" English Dolby Digital 5.0 Surround Audio Track emphasizes dialogue clarity over fancy panning effects or speaker separation tricks (hence the absence of the bass-friendly '.1' audio oomph). That's not to say that, when shootouts take place or the well-chosen music cues/songs play, their clarity and resonance have been compromised in the least. There are also additional English, Spanish & French Dolby Digital Tracks (only the English one is presented in Two-Channel Surround though), an Isolated Music Score (filled with dead silence whenever music isn't playing) as well as English, French & Spanish Subtitles.
Director Mike Newell, a Brit that wonders aloud why he was tapped to helm an American flick about New York mobsters, features prominently in this Special Edition DVD's most meaningful offerings: a Commentary Track and Deleted Scenes (with optional commentary). It tends to lean a little too heavily on the kiss-ass realm of things, but Newell's commentary is filled to the brim with the type of anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories one craves for after watching a movie as well-made as "Donnie Brasco." There are also Two Featurettes: a 6 min. promotional one made back in '97 (predictable behind-the-scenes stuff) and a much-better 21 min. one, 'Donnie Brasco: Out of the Shadows.' This latter featurette re-interviews principal cast & crewmembers, but its highlight is that it introduces viewers to the real-life Joe Pistone! The officer that made-up the Donnie Brasco identity to run the years-long sting operation the movie is based on appears on-camera and without distortion, a rarity for someone with a price on his head.
A 3 min. Photo Gallery, Talent Files for director Mike Newell and four of the movie's actors, Production Notes, Four Theatrical Trailers (including one for "Donnie Brasco" itself) and a Four-Page Booklet round-up this Special Edition's DVD features. No amount of fancy DVD packaging gimmicks or additional extras can salvage a film when it's crap. But, when a film is as outstanding as "Donnie Brasco," extras of the caliber featured in this Special Edition DVD are much more welcomed and appreciated.
bottom line:
Two generations of elite American actors (Pacino representing the old guard passing the baton to Depp's generation) and a small army of supporting performers (Kirby, Madsen, Heche, etc.) complement director Mike Newell's eye for detail. The result is "Donnie Brasco," a rare mobster drama that's more interested in the humanity of its characters than gratuitous bloodletting or style (despite having enough of both to entice the undemanding DVD film buffs). This Special Edition version improves the picture/sound from a previous bare-bones DVD release. Meaningful and enjoyable special features that perfectly complement one of the best and most underrated crime dramas of the past 20 years are just icing on this tasty cinematic cake. Buy it!
By - J.M. Vargas
