Netflix pick for 3/24/14 – ‘Donnie Brasco’

“Heeey, fuhgedaboutit!” For sure, “Donnie Brasco” is the more underrated gangster movie of the 1990s that still managed to make sure this particular stereotypical exclamation embedded itself deep into our lexicon, forever associated with wise guys and undercover agents who went too deep into the mob in order to get their targets.

Directed by an Englishman and starring Johnny Depp, “Donnie Brasco” on the surface is one of the least authentic Italian-American mafia movies to be made, but actually they pretty much nail everything about what made real life FBI agent Joe Pistone’s story as an undercover agent so incredible and ended up with a critically acclaimed film, one that does not get mentioned enough when it comes to portraying the mafia lifestyle and enterprise on film. Great acting (including from legend Al Pacino, still a number of years and a few performances away from the current Pacino we all know and tolerate), an incredible story, strong direction, compelling characters and relationships, it is all here and it is pretty damn great.

So watch “Donnie Brasco” here on the Netflix Instant and you know fuhgedaboutit!