The Movie: Donnie Brasco is a film that I've been wanting to see since it was in the theaters, but one that I never wanted to see bad enough to get around to seeing until now. Based on a true story, it stars Johnny Depp as Donnie Brasco, an undercover FBI agent that through washed-up mob never-has-been "Lefty" (Al Pacino), finds his way into the mob underworld of late 70's New York.

Through some rather violent altercations, the guys Donnie hangs out with end up becoming the big bosses, and Donnie himself gets caught up in this mafia world, losing touch with his wife and children, the FBI, and everything else from his old life.

I thought it was a pretty good movie, but there were definitely some parts that dragged. For example, I think the movie could have done without the last encounter of Donnie going back home -- by that point in the movie, I think the audience has already gotten the idea that there is an almost insurmountable gap in between Donnie and his wife (played by Anne Heche). You'll probably like this movie if you are a big Pacino or Depp fan, or a fan of mob movies in general. Otherwise, I'd probably pass on this one.

The DVD: The video transfer on this disc was pretty good, very clean and sharp, although the colors were not quite as brilliant as I suppose they could have been. The dialog-driven nature of this movie leaves the surround mix pretty flat, but the audio is adequate.

Special features... um... I'm sorry to say I returned this movie before examining or making note of all the special features. I do know that it came with a theatrical trailer and at least one featurette/documentary, and I do remember seeing a menu item for deleted scenes, but I really don't know anything about the actual content of this stuff... sorry!