A fine film, though not quite a classic, mostly because it didn't break any ground, or show us a new way of telling this type of story (25th anniversary)

| Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 4, 2022

A clever insight into the everyday, professional banalities of life as a low to mid-level gangster.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 22, 2019

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.

| Feb 28, 2018

| Original Score: A- | Sep 7, 2011

Depp's tight, guarded performance is almost painful to watch, and Newell seems to have reined in the flamboyant Pacino, whose portrait of the mobster as a grumpy old man may be his best work in years.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jun 20, 2009

It's tempting to think Pacino stopped trying sometime in the mid-1980s. But watch Lefty's elegiac final scene and you might conclude that it's not Al's ability that's dimmed, rather it's the imagination of casting directors that's grown stale.

| Jun 20, 2009

Although perhaps familiar in its outer trappings, Pacino's fine work is the key to the film succeeding to the extent that it does.

Full Review | Nov 20, 2008

[Newell and Attanasio] pay as much attention to emotional details as to the clockwork details of mob life.

| Original Score: A | Jul 30, 2007

Just misses ranking in the upper echelon of mob movies.

| Original Score: B+ | May 9, 2007

A tense, sharp and compelling character study, Newell's film is a worthy addition to the Mob-movie canon.

| Jan 26, 2006

A classy piece of work that may disappoint those looking for something more conventional.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Sep 17, 2005

A blue collar gangster movie that succeeds on all attempted levels, particularly acting.

| Original Score: B+ | Apr 9, 2005

Donnie Brasco is a fine movie but it might just be best remembered as Johnny Depp's coming-out party. A star -- check that, an actor -- is born.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jan 8, 2005

Shows that solid acting and writing can salvage even material that has been covered by much better filmmakers.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Aug 26, 2003

Donnie Brasco manages to sidestep the obvious and dwell on the intriguing.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | May 14, 2003

In almost every respect, Donnie Brasco is an original, the unexpected rebirth of an old and oft-told tale.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Oct 15, 2002

Unfortunately, the story isn't inventive and Newell's methodical approach to it verges on monotony.

| Aug 14, 2002

It's gritty, real and totally engrossing.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 14, 2002

A first-class Mafia thriller that is also, in its way, a love story.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jun 18, 2002

It's hard to develop any sympathy for the film's nasty manipulative humans, despite the best efforts of all involved in this newest slant on the mean-streets crowd.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 5, 2002