A 1997 gangster film with an impressive rating from Rotten Tomatoes and a “great” performance from Al Pacino is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Donnie Brasco is based on the true story of Pistone, an undercover FBI agent who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family during 1970s New York City.
The film’s synopsis reads: “Joseph Pistone is an FBI agent who has infiltrated one of the major New York Mafia families and is living under the name Donnie Brasco. He develops a relationship with mob hit man Benjamin Lefty Ruggiero in order to get deeper under cover, but ends up developing a real friendship with the Mafioso. As their relationship develops, Pistone must decide whether or not to complete his job, knowing that it will lead to the murder of his new friend.”
Al Pacino stars in the film opposite Johnny Depp and alongside Anne Heche, Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, James Russo, Željko Ivanek and Ronnie Farer among others.
The film was directed by Mike Newell and is based on the non-fiction book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley, published in 1988.
Donnie Brasco scores an impressive 88% rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics. Their consensus reads: “A stark, nuanced portrait of life in organized crime, bolstered by strong performances from Al Pacino and Johnny Depp.”
Critic David Ansen of Newsweek described Depp and Pacino’s performances, stating: “This is Depp’s coming-of-age role, and he’s terrific. Pacino, who’s shown more flash than substance recently, reminds us how great he can be when he loses himself inside a character.”
An audience reviewer said: “A tense, sharp and compelling character study, Newell’s film is a worthy addition to the Mob-movie canon.”
“I just love Al Pacino. An amazing mafia movie in the shadows of Goodfellas and the Godfather,” added another audience reviewer.
Donnie Brasco is available to stream on Amazon Prime.