Michael Madsen miscast

Madsen was once again a victim of typecasting in Donnie Brasco, as on paper Sonny Black looks like the typical sadistic gangster that Madsen had played before. I guess gangster films were still in vogue too at the time of post Tarantino mania.

Madsen looks more Irish-American than Italian; which goes to show that he was just cast for his Reservior Dogs notoriety.

I still think he did a fine job though considering it wasn't much of a part.

Madsen is less of a star than Depp and Pacino, but you can't have too many top stars in one project or the audience gets confused. The Departed is a good example. DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson, Sheen, and Baldwin usually play leading roles, and each time one of them appears on sceen it cues the audience that their particular characters are going to play important roles in the story. That can make the action difficult to follow. Madsen's character was secondary to the Depp-Pacino relationship, and yet Sonny Black was higher in the gang than each. Therefore, a lesser known talent was required.

If we´re just talking actors,italian actors,then exactly how italian does Joe Pantoliano look? Still with Bound and his work on the Sopranos,he is one of the best actors around to portray a sociopathic gangster...or was. Not all but much is in the portrayal,not just supposed heritage.

I personally think this is Madsens best work and he does the best work in the film,along with Pacino. How italian Depp looks,I´m not even gonna touch with a 70-feet pole.

I watch a film to be entertained,moved or intrigued. If I were to watch this film first,love everythiung about it,then watch a documentary about Donnie Brasco and go"Wait a minute. Sonny Black didn´t look a bit like Michael Madsen...no,Madsen didn´t work when I think about it." That would just be plain stupid.


And anyone thinking he looks irish,I have no idea what kind of irish people you´ve met but his face and voice is a bit from the stereotypical irish mug. So saying Michael Madsen doesn´t work is saying he doesn´t work as a gangster more or less,which in his case is saying he doesn´t work as an actor to a large degree...opinions differ.


Alot of people watched gangsterfilms in the 2000´s and then saw this film and thought he just was repeating what they already had seen. The problem is he perfected his gangsterpersona here,he played it lowkey,not like in the years to come. Anyone who thinks he gives the impression of not being a hard,violent sociopath as Black obviously see a real bad muthafu<ka when they look in the mirror.

Think he is cherokee,irish,danish and something else. As italian,especially concidering many being watered down coming over from the old land,he worked.


Assantes best role is without a doubt in Q & A,as Bobby Tex,there he got the mannerisms down perfect as a minor drug kingpin...who would not have worked at all if he was italian. If Assante got the part and he played it like in American Gangster,amusing but very selfconcious parody of Brando in the Godfather,complete with mumbling and all...I don´t know,would be fun but maybe not good. One thing´s for certain,both guys deserved way better careers.


So it´s a film and we establish that at least looking like the real Sonny is extremely irrelevant. We don´t even get to see what should be the films climax,Pistone ratting,we actually get the opposite(Fu<k you,I´m not coming out!")so the film is obviously not sticking to telling the real,real story.

Kirby looked way too harmless and not even a hint of italian(though looks don´t always matter,it´s about violence and being effective) and Russos halvdeveloped character with a confused,unspoken grudge against Donnie/Joey are more off base.

I think he was excellent & I thought he was Italian the first time I saw it. Stallone I don't think so. Assante was perfect as Gotti but I think Michael was the perfect choice. He's a real badass but very likable. So what that he doesn't look like the real guy, Johnny doesn't look like Pistone either. Speaking as a woman they did Pistone & Sonny B major justice by having such gorgeous men playing them.

I kindly disagree.

Armand Assante would probably look more like the real Sonny Black, and yes he is Italian, but Michael Madsen is scary.

That scariness is what was needed to create the tension in this film that was felt by Joe Pistone during his years undercover. You identify with the lead character (Donnie Brasco) as he navigates shark infested waters to complete his mission as a mole. Michael Madsen is one of the only actors that can really scare a person without the typical cliche horror movie soundtrack to go along with a movie. He's scary just by turning around and looking at you.

I don't think the film-makers cared much about portraying the 'real' guy acccurately. Whatever Madsen brought to the role, that was HIS character.

Believing him as the real guy is secondary to buying him as the character he is playing. I believed him as the character he was playing.... Sort youngish, imposing and crazy, coming up into a role in the family that was new to him, and him putting a stamp on it, doing things his own way.

"Madsen doesn't even look Italian or believable as a man from the mafia."

Really? I think he looks believable.

The acting throughout this film was top notch, but Madsen's was my favorite. I was thrilled he was such an important part of this beloved (at least to me) film.