MovieChat Forums > Donnie Brasco (1997) Discussion > Lacked a bit in direction

Lacked a bit in direction

posted 9 years ago by sackofwhine
3 replies | jump to latest

This was a pretty good movie, however I was a bit disappointed in how the movie turned out. I think there was a missed oppurtunity here. The writing in this was great, every scene of dialogue was genuinly interesting and "entertaining" (I dont really enjoy using that word) but in my opinion there could have been a lot more. Especially the direction left me hanging. You these movies that are always "on". That just shine with energie? A few movies come to mind, Goodfellas, Boogie Nights, Casino etc. What sets them appart from your typical gangster movie, is their genius use of music, cinemetography, editing and so on. I didnt fell Mike Newell used his tools enough. A lot of the scenes felt stale. It was pretty much one shot after another but without a certain style. Sure, some may say substance over style, and I agree for the most part. Style is the topping on the cake, and not the main ingrediant, but a gangster movie definitely benefits from some creative shots.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sackofwhine 9 years ago

But what is the point of someone tackling such an ambitious project and not do anything "visual" with it. Film is a visual medium after all and story is ultimately the thing that most people look for, who are -sorry to say this- cinematically illiterate. Its the easiest thing in the world to call a movie bad soley because of the things that happen "oh yeah i liked it because this and this happend" okay, but what did you think about the actual film-making?

[–] NotForMeThanks 9 years ago

I felt a lot like you when I used to watch this movie but then I actually grew to appreciate the style they went for. The wrrent going for a fast paced movie that showed the fun parts of being in the mob.

It was meant to make you feel sadness, to see that mob life isn't always so glitzy for all of the members. It was set in a very dark tone.

The Sopranos actually followed a bit of that dark tone that Donnie Brasco used.

While I feel that NO ONE can do mob/crime movies as good as Scorsese can, I do appreciate how this movie tried to distance itself from one of his signature styles.

Although Scorsese is actually very versatile in style when you truly look at his whole body of work.

One of Scorsese's considered best, Raging Bull, makes you feel so sad, so angry and annoyed but that was the beauty in it. It was supposed to make you feel uncomfortable. Not stimulate your senses with color or any of that. That's just another thing that makes Scorsese so great.

While known for the distinct style we love him for, most of us loving the Goodfellas/Casino/Wolf of Wall Street/Departed style, he has shown he can create all different types of movies and feel to those movies. Even Hugo, which was a great movie for kids. Maybe too high brow for some audiences but he made a high brow kid's movie.

Mean Streets is another example where nothing is glitzy and it feels like reality.

I've learned to appreciate the tone that Donnie Brasco used. And while many people say it didnt feel like a Scorsese movie, when looking at some movies like Raging Bull and Mean Streets, that same feeling of almost dread and sadness is also something Scorsese has already done as well.

When looking at his body of work, he is extremely versatile and it kind of sucks that some people who have only seen particular movies of his think that's the only style he uses.

Sorry, I went off base a little bit lol.