Sony has come out with an unrated, "extended cut" of the well-respected 1997 mob flick, Donnie Brasco, starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. Who exactly extended this new 147 minute version (the older version runs 127 minutes) nobody is saying. It's not on the box, and there's no mention of it on any of the old extras that are included. All of the extra features are carried over from the 2000 disc release - with the glaring exception of director Mike Newell's commentary track, which has mysteriously disappeared on this Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut. Quite honestly, I can't imagine why you would need this "extended cut" of Donnie Brasco. With these new scenes inserted, I saw no discernable improvement in the overall impact of the film, nor do I see any point in buying a new disc that doesn't even bother to include the previous director's commentary.

Based on a true story, undercover F.B.I. agent Joseph D. Pistone infiltrated the Mafia in the early 1970s, posing as jeweler Donnie Brasco. Befriending Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino), Donnie quickly became a trusted member of a Mafia family, and gathered thousands of hours of surveillance tapes of their illegal activities. But Donnie's initially short assignment turned into a nightmarish years-long commitment that left his marriage and family in a shambles from which they barely recovered.

There's much to enjoy in Donnie Brasco, particularly the lead performances by Pacino and Depp. I was never a big fan of Depp prior to Donnie Brasco, but I thought his turn here showed a depth of performance, and a facility with a difficult role, that was admirable. Showing Pistone as a family man and law officer gradually drawn into a violent, amoral crime family - and developing feelings of loyalty to those members - is a complex tight-rope to walk, and Depp does a fine job. Pacino nicely rounds out his celebrated involvement with the cinematic mob, creating a burnt-out, small-time hood in Lefty Ruggiero that's diametrically opposed to his smooth, sleek, accomplished Don Corleone in The Godfather Parts I and II. Not afraid to look foolish and seedy in gaudy checked coats and porkpie hats, Pacino loses himself in the pathetic, but still dangerous Lefty, who sees Donnie as a surrogate son, and who agonizes over the relatively shabby life he's managed to accumulate after years of small-time illegal activity.

The problem I had watching Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut is the same problem I had with the film when I first saw it in theaters ten years ago. Director Mike Newell is particularly adept at creating a believable atmosphere in which Depp and Pacino navigate the various rituals and procedures of a Mafia family. Donnie Brasco is fascinating because it shows us the mechanics of how one actually lives and works within a mob hierarchy. Procedure is everything in Donnie Brasco, and from a standpoint of showing the audience the nuts and bolts of what it must be like to live within the Mafia, it's a fairly strong film.

Watching Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut at first, I only noticed one scene that was added: a dinner conversation between the gang after a brutal beating and killing of a rival. Going back and running my old DVD copy against this new one, I saw the new additions - mostly domestic stuff that further shows Donnie's gradual estrangement from his wife, plus the IRS auditing his family, Donnie walking Lefty's lion - but they added almost nothing to the depth of the film. Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut is a marketing ploy to get new people to buy this DVD, and to entice buyers who already own the previous DVD releases, to shell out more dough thinking they're going to get something extra. I've always been suspicious of "extended" cuts for films, anyway. Unless the director conducts them (and even then, I don't particularly like the process), they're usually an artistically suspicious practice that always strikes me akin to a painter going back to a museum, and occasionally "touching up" a painting. Leave the film alone; it is what it is. Adding further insult to potential buyers, this new Sony Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut DVD doesn't even bother to include the director's commentary from the previous DVD release. With less bonuses than the previous DVD releases, along with some 20 minutes of extra footage that in no way significantly alters or expands on the impact of the film, the Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut is pretty pointless.

The DVD:

The Video:
The anamorphically enhanced, 2.35:1 widescreen image for Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut is vivid and sharp, with the many night scenes holding their blacks well. I saw no transfer issues.

The Audio:
The Dolby Digital English 5.1 soundtrack is crystal clear, but since Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut is mostly about dialogue, don't expect a lot of play in the speakers. English and French subtitles are available, and a close-captioning option is available.

The Extras:
The extras for Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut are the same ones featured on earlier releases -- without the director's commentary, which is missing here. The Donnie Brasco: Out From the Shadows featurette looks at the background of the production and Pistone's career. There's an original featurette from 1997, promoting the film. A photo gallery, and some original theatrical trailers are included.

Final Thoughts:
There's no need to purchase the Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut DVD, particularly if you already have the older DVD releases. The director's commentary is missing from this reissue, and the "extended cut," which isn't credited to the director, adds nothing new to the impact of the film. If you already own the film on DVD, there's no need to rush out and buy this one. And if you're curious to see it, try and rent an older copy. Skip the Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut.