Donnie Brasco(1997)
Cast: Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Anne Heche
True Crime: Donnie Brasco (A.K.A. Joseph D. Pistone) was an undercover FBI agent who infiltrated New York City’s Bonanno mafia family over five years. Chosen for his Sicilian heritage, Pistone became close with the Bonanno captain Dominick “Sonny Black” Napolitano and was schooled by family soldier Benjamin “Lefty Guns” Ruggiero. Pistone’s performance was so convincing that he offered official membership in the mafia, commonly known as being a “made man,” and his work led to more than 200 indictments and more than 100 convictions.
Apt Adaptation: It’s Johnny Depp as Pistone and Al Pacino as “Lefty” Ruggiero, how can it be anything but awesomeness? But some historical inaccuracies may tick-off true-crime buffs — particularly Ruggiero’s slaying of Nicky Santoro, as Santoro is alive and well to this day.
