Why did Sonny Red sabotage the Florida operation? 7 biggest mistakes in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, The 20 biggest mistakes in The Wizard of Oz, 40 biggest mistakes in The Big Bang Theory, 6 Cool things you've never noticed in movies, The biggest mistakes in the Harry Potter movies, 25 mistakes you never noticed in great movies, 7 mistakes in Beetlejuice you never spotted, More questions & answers from Donnie Brasco. It was the bureau's final cue to pull him out. He ended up telling us that the Donnie Brasco guy was really damaged by his work. Man has betrayed his best friendnow the dogs will have their day. The movie is based on a 1978 book inspired by the real "Donnie Brasco'' case (its author is still living in the government witness protection program). User Ratings It's an exit that does justice to both the actor and the role, and it leaves an ache in the movie." Sonny Black becomes the new boss and orders Donnie to kill Sonny Red's son, Bruno, so that Donnie can officially become a member of their family. Just that would not be that exciting, but there are also several scenes, which have never been seen before and which are not only for the plot, but also reveal further bloody details. At the end of the film, Lefty leaves behind his valuables and tells his wife that if Donnie calls to tell him if it was going to be anyone, Im glad it was him, before he is called to a meeting with his crew, thinking he will be executed for bringing a mole into the family. Did John McClane know Bill Clay was really Hans Gruber? In September 1981, Black disappeared after being called to a sitdown with mob bosses. How do you get out of a corner when plotting yourself into a corner. 2. Lefty sees his plan to become a caporegime collapse and resents Donnie. Pacino's Lefty is a street-smart wise guy, but he lacks that emotional connect a real friendship brings in someone's life. Evidence collected by the. Donnie took one quick look at the diamond and told him it was a fugazy (a fake). Then learn about the executions, informants, and flamboyance of the American Mafia in the 1980s. The stone was just One in particular caught my eye, which was a mid-80's Ford Taurus (even the model of the car didn't exist in 1978). Donnie is part of the journey along with Lefty, Sonny Black, Nicky Santora and Paulie Booby Cersani. With the deal gone south, the Bonanno bosses were looking for someone to blame. What is the first song during the opening credits? I know that even tho the movie suggests in the end that Lefty gets whacked by his mob family because he was the one to guarantee for Donnie aka Pistone, that's not factually right, that it was actually Sonny Black who was killed and that Lefty got "saved" by the FBI who wanted him to cooperate and then served some years and died of cancer. [4] [5] DiGiaimo brought it to Levinson's Baltimore Pictures, as well as producers Mark Johnson and Gail Mutrux, who then turned to Paul Attanasio to write the script. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. In 1976 FBI undercover agent Joseph Pistone successfully infiltrated New York's Bonanno Mafia family. Enjoy. When Pistone's book, was published in 1988, Louis DiGiaimo, who worked as a casting director for Barry Levinson, was a childhood acquaintance of Joseph D. Pistone, and served as a consultant for the book, bought the film rights. Thus younger mobsters wanted to dissociate themselves from Mustache Petes (who had big mustaches), and did so by outlawing mustaches altogether. Donnie Brasco 1997 R 2 h 7 m IMDb RATING 7.7 /10 314K YOUR RATING Rate POPULARITY 2,308 231 Play trailer 0:37 1 Video 99+ Photos Biography Crime Drama An FBI undercover agent infiltrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the mafia life, at the expense of his regular one. Donnie Brasco is a 1997 American crime drama film directed by Mike Newell, and starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. A woman has been slammed online after being upset that her parents would not see her family until they had all tested negative for COVID-19. (the movie ending)After it is revealed to the mob that Donnie Brasco (Johnny Depp) is actually FBI Agent Joseph Pistone, 'Lefty' Ruggiero (Al Pacino) receives a phone call. They tried calling but Balistrieri never returned their calls. Donnie Brasco is a 1997 American crime drama film directed by Mike Newell, and starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. This last place becomes a fashionable clandestine gambling hall. He was able to see his wife Maggie and their three daughters once every three or four months for a day on average. The FBI had another agent undercover using the pseudonym Tony Conte inside the Milwaukee mob who needed some assistance. They then go to the previous owner, who owns a nightclub. He's also the author of several books and the co-owner of a production company. "[18] New York Magazine called him "graceful" and found his acting highly believable: "We can believe that the mob might take him for a tough, ambitious young hoodhe has the wariness and the self-confidence that creates an aura. Info from onscreen text before the end credits: thanks to Joe's undercover work, many indictments and convictions were made. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. Weeks went by and Ruggiero and Pistone hadnt heard from the Milwaukee mob boss. Now in his sixth year undercover in the Mob, Pistone had already gone deeper into the Mafia than any undercover agent. Instead, Ruggiero defended Pistone. Frank's Spoiled Movie Endings | Donnie Brasco (1997) Ending FBI agent Joe Pistone worms his way into the New York mafia by getting chummy with Lefty Ruggiero, and Pistone (alias Donnie Brasco) gets into the branch headed by Sonny Black. Johnny Depp met Pistone several times while he was preparing for the role. I just had this gut feeling The story plays like a companion to "GoodFellas", with the same lore, the same fierce Mafia code, the same alternation between sudden violence and weird comedy. | The Florida project and the other jobs are a backdrop for the relationship between Donnie and Lefty, which is complicated because the FBI agent has a wife and kids squirreled away in the suburbs, who go for weeks at a time without hearing from him. His first contacts were within the Colombo crime family, but they were strictly small-time criminals fencing perfume and leather jackets who didnt have access to the upper echelon mobsters Pistone needed to know. Once you met untitled gray man novel 10 mark greaney; geemarc amplipower 50 troubleshooting; inverse kinematics using jacobian matlab code The . FilmSelect Official 2022. The latter then asks Lefty to find the mole and eliminate it. Answer: Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero suffered from testicular cancer, as well as lung cancer. Too many questions were viewed with great suspicion and this rule complicated his undercover role and contributed to its longevity. A lot of the time these guys spend hanging around their social club, playing cards and complaining that business is bad. Donnie is brought in to help clean up and dispose of the bodies. He has a Ph.D. and speaks five languages. The latter organizes a summit meeting with the godfather of Florida, Santo Trafficante Junior, on a boat loaned by the FBI. Anything wrong with you, I go down.'' The movie implies that Lefty is killed for his incompetence in vouching for Donnie, and nothing is said of Sonny Blacks (Michael Madsens) fate. The film is loosely based on the true story of Pistone (Depp), an FBI undercover agent who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family in New York City during the 1970s, under the alias Donnie Brasco, a jewel thief from Vero Beach, Florida. Pistone lives with his wife under an assumed name in an undisclosed location, with a $500,000 open contract on his head. In 2004 his second book was published called The Way of the Wiseguy (wise guy means mafia member in slang). Thanks to his conversations with Ruggiero and Black, Pistone gathered enough names to put 120 top Mafiosi behind bars. Donnie Brasco is a 1997 Mafia thriller directed by Mike Newell and starring Al Pacino and Johnnie Depp. Lefty died of cancer in 1994. Starring: Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Michael Madsen, Anne Heche, Bruno Kirby. "Donnie Brasco" is a film inspired by the lengthy undercover work done by FBI agent Joe Pistone. The film, written by Paul Attanasio, is based on the 1988 nonfiction book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley. Pistone, then traveled to Milwaukee to meet Balistrieri. But, warned of the planned assassination of Bruno Indelicato, they arrest Donnie and Lefty just as they were about to take action. Joe gets $500 and a medal for his hard work. Enjoy this look at Joseph Pistone and his undercover work as Donnie Brasco that exposed Americas most powerful criminal organization? #moviesexplainhindiAn undercover FBI agent infiltrates one of the five crime families in New York and rises through the ranks quickly in order to bring it do. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. The FBI had purchased the building months earlier, and it now became the perfect location to engineer a meeting between the Bonanno and Trafficante families. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Director Mike Newell Writers For his part, Donnie connects Sonny Black with a bar in Florida. The film follows Donnie (Johnny Depp) from the beginning of his friendship with Lefty (Al Pacino) to becoming a trusted man working for Sonny . Did Donnie really know the diamond was fake? An average day would start with checking in with Ruggiero, Brasco's captain, and then hanging out in a bar or nightclub trying to think of new ways to make money or advancing up the Mafia ladder. | The Mafia put a contract out on Brasco's life for half a million dollars. After Pistone was exposed, he was accepted into the US witness protection program and given a new identity. Eventually all of the threads, personal and criminal, come down to one moment when Lefty either will or will not act on what he knows, or thinks he knows. The Top 10 Best Johnny Depp Movies: We look at this eccentric actor's filming career throughout the years. Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp) is an FBI agent who has infiltrated one of the major New York Mafia families and is living under the name Donnie Brasco. Ruggiero had worked as a loyal foot soldier for the Mafia for 30 years and killed 26 people in total. It was the bureau's final cue to pull him out. Too much sex. [4] Stephen Frears was initially hired as director for the film, but when Goodfellas, another mob film, was released in 1990, the planning for the film was pushed back. Nominees & Winners for the 70th Academy Awards | Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, http://news.moviefone.com/2012/02/27/donnie-brasco-15th-anniversary, Al Pacino as Gangster, A Guy Who's Not Wise, Guns and Roses / Pacino, Depp mob thriller 'Donnie Brasco' adds love triangle to the payoff. FBI agents reveal Donnie's true identity as an undercover FBI agent to Sonny Black. What was the significance of the matchbook Sonny gives Lefty just before the boat scene? A Capo leads a crew of Soldatos and occasionally some associates. At an important moment in his life, he puts some things in a drawer. In the August heat they frolicked on the beaches, fetched sticks, played with the children. Two days after the FBI pulled Brasco out of the operation they informed Napolitano that he had been working undercover. Special agent Joseph Pistone lives with his wife under an assumed name in a undisclosed location." I went in Donnie Brasco completely blind, only two things Iknew were that Pacino and Depp were in it, so I naively expected Pacino to be the boss, the big guy in the room, and Depp his son maybe, something like that. They get the ultimate protection, meaning no one can touch you or they will get killed. Pistone's wife is Maggie, a former nurse. The FBI decided to finally end Operation Donnie Brasco in mid-1981 after mob bosses ordered Pistone to kill a rival. Starring: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen Watch all you want. In reality, it was Sonny Black Napolitano who had to take responsibility for bringing Donnie Brasco into the family and was murdered. Let's go home." Work classified as: cleaning offices, wiping down stations, deep clean once a month, mopping, cleaning kitchen and restrooms. Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? Because sometimes, you fall asleep watching a mediocre rental, and would rather return it on time than pay two more bucks just to see the end. Now in 1979, Pistone had entered his fourth-year undercover. They get into a scuffle and make a deal for his car stay quiet about the incident. Michael Madsen plays the boss Lefty reports to. It's about need. They are not members of a family or "made" and rarely get access to serious mafia secrets and or information. Sonny Black: You know what we do when we find that rat, right, Lefty? It is an adaptation of the story of FBI Agent Joseph D. Pistone and his work as an undercover agent infiltrating the Bonanno family, one of Donnie Brasco Ending Explained: Explaining the True Story Behind the Movie Read More In April 1981, all three rival capos were gunned down and the civil war was quickly over. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Pistones ruse as a good earner, funneling FBI money into Mob hands made him a trusted and respected associate. An associate is an outsider or a hang around. Back in New York, tensions rise within the family, between the teams of Sonny Red and Sonny Black. Ending Plot More The bad guys find out that Donnie/Joe (Johnny Depp) is a snitch. Furthermore, he lied to the bosses when he said Pistone had made $250,000 in a heroin deal and had not shared the money with the family. Trafficante accepted. [11], Janet Maslin of The New York Times called it "a sharp, clever encounter, overturning all manner of genre cliches and viewer expectations and the best crime movie in a long while, is full of similar surprises as it leads Mr. Pacino and Johnny Depp through a fine-tuned tale of deception. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Donnie Brasco (film)". Their responsibilities usually are to carry out small tasks, such as robbery and theft. Ruggiero was a made man in the infamous Bonanno crime family and although low-level, he was well-known. Donnie Brasco is a 1997 American crime drama film directed by Mike Newell, and starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. [7], Donnie Brasco was released on DVD in October 2000 as a "special edition" with bonus materials such as commentary tracks. Film Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat is based on the true life story of undercover FBI agent Joe Pistone who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family in the 1970s. Getty ImagesThe body of reputed Mafia leader Carmine Galante is covered by New York police detectives here July 12 at a Brooklyn restaurant after Galante and his associate, identified as Nino Cappolla, were shot to death as they ate lunch. Lefty . The British director Mike Newell, whose biggest hit was "Four Weddings And A Funeral" might seem like a strange choice for this material, but he's the right one, because the movie is not really about violence or action, it's about friendship. He had spent the last few days with Black and Ruggiero and it was the last time he saw them. But the movie has many human qualities and contains what will be remembered as one of Pacino's finest scenes. It seemed like he was trying to be kind, but he basically said that the guy never went back to normal and lost everything (though I have no idea whether he was taken care of or given a different position with the government). Did Donnie Brasco really know the diamond was fake? Lefty gets a call from mob higher ups. Such a bittersweet ending. On July 12, 1979, the head of the Bonanno family, Carmine Galante, was shot dead. Booby comes back for Donnie. After eleven years in prison he was released and fell ill with testicular and lung cancer. [1] It went on to earn $41.9 million in North America and $83 million from other markets, for a total of $124.9 million. How was the diamond outside the brief case? Donnie Brasco is pointless and boring and, in the end, not half as funny as Johnny Dangerously. Joe gets $500 and a medal for his hard work. Meanwhile, trouble was brewing within the Bonanno family ranks. Despite all this, I'm still gonna use the fictionalized ending of this beautiful character. Times were tough even for the Mob, which Pistone and the FBI exploited. I didn't want it to, I genuinely wished the best to him because I felt for him, but I also knew it was inevitable, and when the moment came, he knew, and the scene was simply heartbreaking. Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, James Russo, and Anne Heche appeared in supporting roles. He gradually wins Lefty's trust, and it becomes clear that Lefty badly needs someone to trust; he has cancer, his son is a junkie, and his mob career is going nowhere. p 84. He went into the bar under his apartment and left his valuables with the bartender whom he trusted. Answer (1 of 15): 1. Donnie tries to offer Lefty a bag of money so he can leave the Mafia, but Lefty begins questioning his loyalty at gunpoint. Ruggiero was successful and the ploy had effectively brought two crime families together. Joseph Dominick Pistone (born September 17, 1939), is an American former FBI agent who worked undercover as Donnie Brasco between September 1976 and July 1981, as part of an infiltration primarily into the Bonanno crime family, and to a lesser extent the Colombo crime family, two of the Five Families of the Mafia in New York City. Lefty asks Donnie to sell a diamond he acquired from a strip club owner, but Donnie insists that it's a fake. It only takes a minute to sign up. However, his violent streak was a threat to Pistones operation. Edit, Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia (1988) is an autobiographical account by former FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone (assisted in the writing by Richard Woodley), detailing the years that Pistone lived undercover with the mafia. The film is based on the 1990 book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, which chronicles the real-life experiences of FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone, who went by the alias Donnie Brasco for six years as an undercover agent in the circles of the Bonanno Mafia Family, one of the five New York Mafia Families, in New York City and Florida in order to infiltrate them. Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback. Combined with a track record of unruly behavior, regular therapy sessions and medication, it's heavily implied Donnie is suffering from. Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is Copyright 2009-2022, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Brian Tarantina (Les Soprano, Donnie Brasco) est mort l'ge de 60 ans. It is an adaptation of the story of FBI Agent Joseph D. Pistone and his work as an undercover agent infiltrating the Bonanno family, one of the five most important mafia families in New York. But Donnie and Lefty go down to Florida and meet Richie Gazzo, owner of the Kings Court bar. The scene implies he is going to his death for letting Donnie aka (Joseph Pistone) an FBI agent into the mob.In real life Lefty was never killed. Edit, Donnie and Lefty head down to the dock where Donnie has been ordered by Sonny Black (Michael Madsen) to kill Sonny Red's (Robert Miano) son Bruno (Brian Tarantina). At the end of the meeting, it is decided that Sonny Black and his team can settle in Florida at the Kings Court. Don Frye vs Tank Abbott by Magnolito. He is currently focusing on anime, his childhood love, with special atten Donnie Brasco Ending Explained: Explaining the True Story Behind the Movie. However, there was one condition. One scene that broke my heart was when they were on the boat in Florida and Lefty wanted to hand an envelope with a funny pun and 100$ in it as a sign of respect, but couldn't reach Santo Trafficante's attention, he wasn't big enough, he didn't matter, and then he saw Sonnie Black introduce Donnie to Santo and act friendly, and he felt betrayed, he felt stepped on, so he shredded the envelope, threw it in the sea and got depressed. Meaning he took the mob code of Omert (code of silence) very seriously. He kept fifty-percent of his earnings, while Ruggiero took the rest. Lefty believes Donnie betrayed him and cuts ties with him until Lefty's son nearly dies of an overdose and Donnie is the only one who comes to comfort him. "If I say you're a friend of mine, that means you're connected,'' Lefty explains to Donnie. What I found was this second hand mobster, an ambitious and highly committed to the "family" man that wanted to climb the ranks and rise as the new boss, but couldn't, and not for the same reason Henry Hill and Jimmy Conway couldn't, not for a blood matter, but because he wasn't respected. It was not long before Napolitano's death was ordered. After all, a guy risks his life because he trusts you; you can't help feeling like a rat if you're double-crossing him. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Chazz Palminteri's Biggest Regret Is Not Being in 'Donnie Brasco': 'I Turned it Down' . JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Donnie Brasco merupakan film drama kriminal arahan sutradara Mike Newell.. Naskahnya ditulis Paul Attanasio, yang mengadaptasi dari buku nonfiksi berjudul Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia karangan Joseph D. Pistone dan Richard Woodley.. Film yang tayang pada 1997 ini dibintangi sejumlah aktor Hollywood ternama seperti Johnny Depp dan Al Pacino. Almost immediately Mirra discovered that Pistone was making a lot of money under Black. Donnie actually knew the diamond was fake and was showing off his knowledge and connections to become a friend of Lefty. Ruggiero was also called, but on his way, the Feds picked him up and he was taken into protective custody. On August 17, 1981, accepting his fate, Napolitano gave his favorite bartender his jewelry and the keys to his apartment so that his pet pigeons could be looked after. Wikimedia commonsUndercover agent Joseph Pistone as Donnie Brasco, with the lowlevel wiseguy who took him under his wing, Benjamin Lefty Guns Ruggiero. As if to make Donnie feel inferior to him. Thanks to him, more than 200 indictments and 100 convictions have been carried out. This is the book version of the motion picture by the same name. Lefty: Sometimes I think, in that orphanage, they dropped you on your fucking head. After the FBI pulled Pistone from his deep cover in mid-1981, his evidence led to the imprisonment of over a hundred leading Mafiosi leading to the implosion of the American Mafia. Pistone came up on the mean streets of Patterson, New Jersey before going deep undercover and spending six years inside the Bonanno and Columbo crime families. I wanted him to be a guy that was a street-smart, street-wise kid the wiseguys would take to and not question too much about his background or his abilities to do what he said he could do, Pistone said. Big Tony's has always had a passion for cooking . Now Lefty is meeting Sonny Black despite the fact that he think Sonny Black might have planned to murder Lefty. Edit, Apparently it's an old rule created after the "Mustache Petes" were ostracized. Pistone is asked by his FBI supervisor to incorporate Miami-based undercover FBI Agent Richie Gazzo into the Donnie Brasco operation. Big Tony's has been in business since 1973 we first started off in the great city of Boston, Big Tony Sr.s dream was for one day to open up a business with well cooked and quialty food at a low cost to the people. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? The Last Of Us S01E04 Reaction. Was the ring at the beginning really a fake, or was Donnie just playing Lefty to get in with him? to demonstrate that I knew something about gems. Balistrieri had in fact discovered that Conte was an FBI informant, but did not bother to inform the Bonanno bosses or Ruggiero. On Sunday, July 24, 1981, Pistone left the Kings Court for the final time. Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? You know who you're talkin' to? Sharing the spoils of cashed-up stolen jewelry with criminal contacts was crucial in fooling the Mob and in the Mobs vetting his usefulness as an earner. His body was found with his trademark cigar still clenched between his teeth. [2], On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Donnie Brasco has an approval rating of 88% based on 57 reviews, with an average rating of 7.80/10. Established in 2006. Joe Pistone maintained his cover so convincingly in real life, the Bonanno Family seriously considered "making" him before it was revealed he was an FBI agent. Police officials and witnesses said four men pulled up in a car and opened fire with automatic weapons and shotguns. From the off, Donnie suffers with apparent delusions. A war broke out between the rival leaders within the family, which quickly split into two factions. Donnie explained the multiple meanings of "fuggetaboutit", "forget about it" in gangster lingo. Next, read about how Little Caesar Salvatore Maranzano created the American Mafia. If found guilty he would be killed. He was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison but was released on parole in 1992. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. There was no question of refusal, so Brasco would either manipulate himself out of the hit at a later date or, if that proved too difficult, the FBI would stage a fake killing. The film earned $11.6 million from 1,503 theaters during its opening weekend. THE LAST OF US EPISODE 4 REACTION - PLEASE HOLD TO MY . Boy could I not be more wrong. There's a $500,000 contract on his head. Police officials and witnesses said four men pulled up in a car and opened fire with automatic weapons and shotguns. "I pretend I'm a widow,'' his wife tells him. A shot is heard, but it turns out to be Joe Pistone on the rifle range. On Thanksgiving Day 1995, Ruggiero died of cancer in his New York home. They settle in the cellar and wait for Sonny Red and his team, whom they eliminate. You can do any goddamn thing you want and nobody can say anything about it. 3. Brasco and the FBI planned to arrest Indelicato before the day of the hit, but they were unable to find him. Beneath everything else, "Donnie Brasco'' is the story of two men who grow to love each other, within the framework of a teacher-student relationship. So, the FBI sent Pistone to Florida, where he helped another undercover operation designed to bring down Santo Trafficante, the head of the Florida mob. He's tall, tough, relentless--and scared, too, because when he gets bumped up a notch, the job includes a $50,000 monthly payment to the guy above him. In 1986, he retired from the FBI and he currently works as an FBI consultant and lectures internationally. [3] MYSTERY WIRE Former FBI agent Joe Pistone had one of the most harrowing assignments ever handed to an agent - infiltrate New York's feared Bonanno crime family.. Pistone spent six years posing as a mobster named Donnie Brasco inside the Bonanno crime family. A series of meetings were convened over a two-month period. It's not about sex. Additionally, he comes to regard Lefty as a close and trustworthy friend. External Reviews Along with fellow undercover agent Edgar Robb, they had the club renovated, installing listening devices and cameras behind the walls. In another world, he would have been your favorite high school teacher. On Nov. 24, 1994, he died of testicular cancer. The FAQ items below may give away important plot points. How can this new ban on drag possibly be considered constitutional? and asked Donnie for $8,000 from his end. The New York crime boss whose family was devastated by the trust it placed in the FBI informant "Donnie Brasco" was convicted on multiple counts of racketeering, arson, extortion, money-laundering . Or if he was divorced.So yes the ring was a Fugazi. Donnie Brasco (1997) Rated R Strong Graphic Violence, Pervasive Strong Language and Brief Nudity and Sexuality 121 minutes Cast Andrew Parks as Hollman Bruno Kirby as Nicky Michael Madsen as Sonny Al Pacino as Lefty Ruggiero Johnny Depp as Joe/Donnie Anne Heche as Maggie James Russo as Paulie Directed by Mike Newell Paul Attanasio Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, Little Caesar Salvatore Maranzano created the American Mafia. In the film Donnie Brasco, there is a scene where Lefty (Al Pacino) comes to him with a diamond, without much hesitation Donnie (Johnny Depp) immediately identifies it as a fake. It would be easy for Lefty to get a second opinion which would put Donnie in a very bad position. Lefty can't believe his ears: "You're calling me a dumbski? The quick change in emotion clearly states he was trying to cheat Lefty. What are the differences between the theatrical version and Special Edition? The massacre in the basement of Sonny Red is the so-called Three Capos Murder. Befrriended by aging hit man Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero (Al Pacino), Pistone (using the alias "Donnie Brasco") begins to identify with the mafia life, to the expense of his own. He tells Brasco of his disappointment at having spent thirty years in the mafia, having killed no less than 26 people and being only a gangster under orders.