"Donnie Brasco" What Ever Happened to Mafia Movies?

 


    Like all mafia movies do Donnie Brasco is a whopping two hours and twenty seven minutes long, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thoroughly impressed by the end of it. I mean my smooth brain social media addled brain prefers movies that are a clean two hours, in my mind anything past the two hour mark goes from enjoying myself before I go to bed to sacrificing sleep to finish this darn movie, so I had high expectations to say the least. While I'm not the most familiar with the mafia genre, I did watch Goodfella's and one and a half Godfather movies, so that has to count for something right? Basically, what I'm trying to say is that when my friend Naz recommended I watch Donnie Brasco, I was a little skeptical of the length, but had high hopes considering I had only ever seen good mafia movies.

    And when I tell you this movie was great, this movie was fantastic. Now, controversy aside about whether or not Johnny Depp is an abuser, because frankly I don't even know where to start with that considering how publicized its become, he's great in this film. I mean as someone who never knew a young Depp I was surprised with how he looked, because I'm so used to seeing him with facial hair, at least facial hair that isn't the mustache he sports in the opening 20 minutes. His transformation from  loving family man to someone who genuinely just acted as rough as the rest of the mobsters was great.

    Though I have to ask, in a movie that is so long, surely they could have shown how he got in? Now don't get me wrong, I do think the intro of the film was good, with Donnie showing off his skills, but just a montage of how he transformed himself to get into the mob would have been cool during the opening credits. I mean it just plays music and names, so still images of him learning the diamond craft or getting in with other mobsters would have been nice to see too, even if this is such a small nitpick.

    Of course, I can't mention acting without mentioning Al Pacino. I mean I was rooting for the poor guy, he pulled off his character completely, and even if it did feed into the stereotypes about mobsters I really did feel for the guy who had dick cancer and languished for twenty years without even a hint of respect from the others. He had the utmost respect for a system that looked away at any chance of ever repaying it back. I mean he was suffering in debt too, it really does as hard of a job as possible to not glamourize the lifestyle, while still trying to make it entertaining.

    Boy, oh boy, when I tell you this movie does not sugarcoat you'd be genuinely surprised. I mean the scene where Donnie basically convinces the entire gang to beat up the Japanese shop owner to save cover was brutal. I mean I felt bad there was a lot of blood and it was just raw. I can say the same thing for when Sonny Blacks squad eviscerates and mutilates Sonny Red's squad. I mean people can say what they want about Lefty and the lack of respect for his son, but the way he just follows orders despite his grudges, sawing off body parts dutifully, that is real loyalty to me.

    I really want to discuss the ending, which I have a feeling everyone loves to discuss about this movie, but I genuinely don't know how to feel. On one hand, in the mafia life you rarely come out alive, but on the other hand I really wanted Lefty to leave, but I guess after twenty years its hard for an old dog to change. When he put all of belongings away, and then left the door, fading to black and gunshots, I really thought they were going to show his death scene, and I was going to be devastated, but they didn't? I didn't like how Joe was just able to go back to his life, frankly I thought it would have been more interesting if he just came out with nothing to give, he gave all this money, gave up his life, his wife and kids and for what, an empty home.

Final Score: 80/100

    Ultimately, this movie is fantastic and while I wouldn't consider it the best mafia movie I've ever seen the characterization is just great. I mean its a bit of a slow burner and doesn't have too much action so if you can't give it your full attention you might not enjoy it as much, but I did. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to someone who's looking to enjoy a mafia movie from a bygone era.

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