Watching 'Donnie Brasco' (1997) for the FIRST TIME! | Movie Commentary & Reaction 

Al and Johnny's chemistry in this film is so fucking good.

This is easily the most underrated mob movie. It’s never talked about and it’s one of Pacino’s best roles. Pacino and Depp are my 2 favorite actors, and gangster films are my favorite genre so this movie is a dream for me. Amazing cast, story, score, licensed soundtrack, etc.

Love this movie for its gritty realism. Really captures New York in that era.

ITS A *FUGAZI!!* 😂😂🔥

I've been waiting for a reaction to this movie for the longest and here it is.

Nice reaction video. This film is probably Pacino's most underrated performance in my opinion. Everyone rightly praises his performances as dominant, dynamic characters like Michael Corleone in GF1and2 (let's pretend part 3 didn't happen) Tony Montana in Scarface and Vincent Hanna in Heat, his high energy performances in Dog Day Afternoon, Scent of a Woman and Devil's Advocate. We know he can play a charming lady's man. But what he does with Lefty is something special. A born loser, doomed from the start. A murderer and a criminal. And he breaks your heart rooting for this guy. Just a phenomenal performance, he should've won an Oscar for it.

If you ever go back to it, "A Bronx Tale" is amazing with Robert DeNiro, Chazz Palminteri. Gotti (the real one 1996 with Armand Assante - which also had about 5-10 actors that ended up in the Sopranos - that's actually on RU-vid, not the Travolta nonsense). And for corruption/some mafia ties you'd definitely enjoy "Hoffa" (1992), Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito (in a serious role and pulls it off), Armand Assante as well.

Pacino plays this role beautifully, and to think that's the same guy playing Michael Corleone and Tony Montana

One fun fact that you might want to know is that in real life Lefty was never killed but he was sent to prison and ultimetly died there

Awesome! About time someone reacted to this.

Excellent reaction! I like how thoroughly you research the movies. I come away not only entertained but educated as well. Thank you for sharing!

OMG! Thank you for reacting to this! 🙏🙏

A Classic Shelby!! As we say in New York, FUHGEDDABOUDIT!!! 😎😂

You’re the only person I’ve seen cover Donnie Brasco on RU-vid. One of my favorite movies. Great job.

Finally another classic movie reaction. Good analisis you know whats up.

Very good review. I like the fact that you did not constantly interrupt. Excellent and intelligent review.

Classic gangster flick. Fuggedaboutit!

"Al Pacino played Lefty sooo well" that will happen when you cast one of the best actors of his generation.. loved your reaction!

I like the way you always name the family. You always do a detailed mob analysis.

Lefty was way more stand-up guy than they portrayed him he's very well respected amongst all the crews and family actually

I've said it before but it's worth saying again... you do such an awesome job with these edits. After watching your videos I feel like I actually just watched the entire movie. Johnny Depp and Al Pacino are fantastic in this movie, and Michael Madsen is such an underrated actor. He did a TV show years ago called 'Vengeance Unlimited' which you should definitely check out at some point. I have to say, I'm gonna miss the mob movies on your channel :( it's probably my favorite genre. Also, I really enjoyed the real-life insight and commentary at the end. And thanks for being the first to react to this... hopefully more reactors will follow suit. Well done, Shelby.

Al Pacino played Lefty exactly what lefty was like. Al Pacino nailed it

You're in luck! I just wrote you a giant book of a comment, and accidentally deleted it! I feel numb! A million notes jotted down during the movie! You really dodged a bullet - and some eye-strain - on this one! Shelby Nave, I LOVE YA. This was SO MUCH fun! What a perfect, perfect way to end this classic Italian mafia movie series you've been doing. I'm super psyched to see where you move on to from here, where ever your muse follows you. That's one of the great things I like about your channel: you're following your own interests and taking us along for the ride. Ugh, I can't bear to rewrite everything I just wrote about this great movie. I'll just leave it at: it's my favorite Johnny Depp performance, tied with "Ed Wood". And "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas" was around this time, also. And this is hands down my favorite post-70s Pacino performance, I put it right next to the first two Godfathers and Dog Day Afternoon, those are my top three. Definitely the complete opposite of Michael Corleone. And he doesn't go over-the top, as he often does. Oh my god, you dancing to "One Way Or Another" was the best, I can't even tell you why, but who DOESN'T do that as soon as that song comes on? Who? Show me the person!!!! lol. Ok, let me not write you ANOTHER book that I may accidentally delete. Every video you put up is a surprise. There's no schedule, it just pops up, "surprise!", I love it. NO ONE has done this movie. And after a month of most reactors doing horror movies (and often the same ones!), it's so great to see this one, which nobody has done yet. Inexplicable, right? xxxxxxxxxxx Thanks, Shelby!!!! I'll be seeing you on the next one....whatever that may be? ("The New World", maybe?! :D ) Maybe you should treat yourself and do a month of short comedies, that aren't Warner Brothers! :P Nothing that passes the hour and a half mark! :P

Thank you so much for this outstanding video! I love how you so thoroughly research the topic. Like you said, other mob movies highlight power, large family gatherings, and fat stacks of cash that a crew like Paul Vario's (Goodfellas) might have enjoyed in the 1970s, but this one shows us what must have been the more common experience for ordinary soldiers, slogging along through the cold, gray New York winter barely making it. In Pistone's book, he describes a funny incident when he and Lefty were in Milwaukee trying to get a vending machine business going with Frank Balistrieri, and Lefty, who had only ever been to Florida and NYC, said, "Let's go to the ocean." Joe ("Donnie") said, "What ocean? We're in the Midwest." Lefty: "They don't got no oceans here?" Joe: "They got a lake. Pretty big lake." Lefty: "Let's go see this lake." When they got to the Lake Michigan shore, Lefty said, "That's a lake?!? Looks just like the ocean. All right, Donnie, let's go back." I really love this movie, so thanks again. It was so much fun to see you watching it, and as far as I know, you're the first one on RU-vid to do this one. Looking forward to the next topic/theme you take up. One suggestion that comes to my mind is the movie The Aviator, with Leonardo DiCaprio, based on the life of Howard Hughes. But I'm sure whatever you do will be great!

Great review and expressions ! You should do THE BROOKLYN BANKER- it is a little known mob movie set in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

Great reaction you should watch a Bronx Tale I'm sure you would love it

It was fun! Thank you!

It is an Amazing movie. Love your after thoughts from “future you”’, great reaction and commentary. - BTW you’re beautiful.

Cool. I love watching new viewers reactions lol

You get points for doing a reaction to Donnie, no one else has done that classic film yet

I can’t believe that there aren’t more reactions to this classic

Did you do Bronx Tale? Got to do that movie if your doing mob movies.

In real life lefty was picked up by the FBI before being killed and died in 1992.

One of the best Mob movies ever. Your analysis was great. If you like thrillers one I would suggest is "Fallen" with Denzel Washington and John Goodman.

Joe Pistone had been out of the witness protection for years now. He even did a sit down on Michael Franzese's RU-vid channel.

Movie in a nutshell: public organized crime vs private organized crime... nobody likes competition...

Liked your reaction to this movie 🎥👍😎great movie

Great performances by everyone in this movie

Al Pacino best and most believable and portray of a real mobster. I love Pacino in this Movie.

Left taking off all of his valuables, knowing what is coming...that hits home for me as a Marine. I get that. Leave it all behind for those who should have it. I didn't wear my wedding ring or carry my Father's pocket watch through my tours.

Never saw someone who matches colours so perfectly

Felt sorry for AL Pacino at the end when he got the call where he was going to get whacked ☹😥

Ty for sharing, I feel it

You should read the book, the biography its amazing I read the book before I saw the movie and the movie is amazing but obviously the book has alot more detail...Dornie gets in real deep and gets real close with lefty...it breaks his heart to turn him him and Dornie legit cut people up in a situation he couldn't get out of proving himself to the top dogs....I u like this u will like "In Too Deep"

Great movie great reaction and commentary since youve seen most and very knowledgeable on the mob i suggest a comedy mafia movie Jane Austen's 1998 Mafia!

I've always thought this is an underrated mob movie.

You should check out the conversation between former Mafia boss Michael Francezese and the real Donnie Brasco. You can find it on RU-vid. It's crazy to think there was a time when they were enemies and now are friends. His story is actually a lot crazier than the movie portrays.

I never really thought about it, but feds having to get to know these criminals and forming relationships must be hard.

nice tan! Fuggedaboutit.

TMI: 17:21 guy in the middle is actual "Joe Pistone" and he was also technical advisor for the film. 😎

Nice reaction sweetheart

Fun facts It was supposed to be a few weeks/few months of going to the diner to make contact with the mob, but the mob took over a year and a half of seeing him to talk to him. When they finally started arresting everyone, Donnie was only a few months from being made, which he was upset the police didn't let him do it because it would have been an even bigger morale hit to the mob to make a rat than just arresting everyone.

You’re reacting to a lot of great mob/gangster movies…you should check out Carlito’s Way…not many people react to it but it’s a great story I think you’ll like it.

Fun fact: Anthony Indelicato’s (Sonny Red’s son) father-in-law was Jimmy Burke.

What he said is true. The best cooks, especially in expensive fancy restaurants, are men!

The thing is about the mob…. If your captain or underboss tells you to do something you have to do it…there is no saying no or refusing…in that life loyalty is everything..and if you openly question your captain or boss then that paints you as someone that’s losing trust in the family and your seen as someone that’s about to crack..so your asked what’s going on and if they suspect you of even thinking about going to the cops and “flipping” they’ll off you because of the things you know…you can’t say no to the boss…in real life you can’t raise your hand or disrespect the underboss or you’ll be beaten to a pulp or have broken arms…or depending on the family they might just flat out kill you…loyalty is everything..and losing faith in the family is like your turning your back on them..because when your a made man you go though a ceremony and all that because your chosen as seen as a trust worthy and a respectable person which is something the family wants…90% when they get caught will never tell the authorities anything and will take the blame all on themselves for the family…and I think when you do that the mob will look after your family at home while your in the can doing time…it’s really like a family that looks out for each other

You should watch Michael Francese’s interview with the REAL LIFE Joe Pistone on his channel. Good stuff! 😎

Yes. You keep count.

My favorite movie. I know every line. Fuggetaboutit

30:16 more like killed because of him in real life the real sonny black was killed over the real joe pistone being an undercover FBI agent also there a lot of other guys who also got killed in the movie it’s lefty in real life it was sonny black who shared a close friendship with in donnie he told his girlfriend if donnie ever called that he wanted her to tell him that he loved him and he was glad it was him sonny black knew he was going to get killed so he went to the meeting anyway because that’s their life one the guys who killed sonny black said after he shot him the shot and was going to shoot him again and the shot misfired sonny black stood their and said Hit me one more time and make it good . His killer said he took his murder like a man

One of my favorite mob movies and not trying to be disrespectful but you're easier to look at than Siskel & Ebert lol.

The real Joe Pistone aka Donnie Brasco is in the movie he is standing behind Santo Trafficante when lefty meets him.

I danger .. Joe has a dam podcast and hangs out with Sami the bull talking about it the 70s NYC crime lol

I love this movie classic

05:03 distinction is the word you are looking for

Its a great book...i've read it several times

Love this movie. My personal favorite performance of Al Pacino. Tho in real life Sonny Black gets killed for bringing Donnie in not Lefty. Edit. The word you were looking for was distinction*

Very underrated movie. In reality lefty was not killed but sunny black was 100% killed. I dont know how lefty got away with it.

I have enjoyed your Italian mob reactions, would you consider reacting to the Mexican Mafia movie American Me(alot of real life hits are connected to the movie) or Blood In Blood Out

Excellent film. And Pacino as his very best. And see "Black Mass" with Johnny Depp as "Whitey" Bulger.

Will you be able to do the Al Pacino classic mob movie Carlitos way ? One more lol

11:52 Tape Recorder is in his Shoes

Arguably the most realistic mob movie of them all. Lot of people say "Godfather" is how the mob see themselves and "Goodfellas" is how the mob really is, but i disagree. "Goodfellas" is how the public/hollywood see the mob, "Donnie Brasco" is how the mob really is. Fun fact: The real life Lefty use to walk his lion through the streets in Brooklyn 😂😂

This is the closest to the way the mob was back then the feel of nyc the clothes ect , so I heard.

why do you not wanna take off your shoes....did you even watch the movie, thats where he keeps his recorder

31:39 Lower Level Lobsters :D

People that know Johnny only from "Pirates" movies are suuuuuper cringe .... also a perfect movie

25:02 And then it comes out that Bruno was one of the guys involved in the murder of Carmine Galante

Have you done Carlito's Way and Scarface?

the left hand washes the right hand

You should watch one last mob movie.:D Its called Gotti. The movie is about his raise and downfall in the Gambino family. But the original not the new Travolta. The most accurate mob movie and the best.

He's hiding stuff in his shoes!!!!

Did you recognize the actor who played Nicky? That's Bruno Kirby who has been a supporting characters in some really great movies. In The Godfather, Part II he played young Clamenza in the flashbacks. Best Regards!

The only video reaction to "Donnie Brasco" on RU-vid. Do "Outsiders".

Friend of mine= Associate Friend of Ours= Made Man.

You can listen to wiretaps conversations between the real guys they sound exactly the same, its on the youtubes

I wonder………., they didn’t allow moustaches because it’s kinda the opposite of cops 👮🏻‍♂️ ? Cop - stache , wiseguy - anti-stache…..Got it!

She looks good in these videos. The hair and makeup wth the nice tgoxk body. Plus she does good commentary. All the ingredients

Digging the Nave and her whole vibe. Excited to see what you choose to tackle next.

$500 of the money of that time, would be $1581 in 2022

When the lion got too much to handle they tied it to a tree in central park and called the police....they didn't believe it until multiple calls about a lion in central park.😅

RIP Anne Heche

If you like depp as a gangster you should watch him in Black mass

Men have been the cooks for generations, they made meals for the kings and nobles. So yeah, the best cooks have always been men. Women are good at making home meals for the family, but that’s about it.

Hey you have to react to the movie legend with Tom hardy

"Hoodlum (1997)"

2:18 A Fugazi means a Fake

The best chefs and most michelin stars are men

Great review. Social media has killed the undercover agent. Everyone can find out anything about anyone these days.

Watch American gangster. Same director who made Goodfellas