My Undercover Life in the Mafia

With today’s ever-changing society and its high demand for information, Americans are constantly trying to find ways to obtain what they need. The evolution of technology has put most paper businesses to rest, for there is no primary need for it anymore. Books have become less and less prevalent, due to the fact of the technology boom. Many people are deferring to watch the movie rendition, instead of reading the novel because of the simple fact, it is not as time consuming. A book worth the time is Joseph D. Pistone’s Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia is a New York Times bestseller, as well as a major motion picture. Pistone takes literature to a whole new level by describing his undercover duty in the Mafia. His thrilling tale will have readers on the edge of their seat, constantly begging for more. Mike Newell’s movie based off of Pistone’s story, however, takes a backseat to the book. The film lacks the authenticity that the novel is blanketed in, which in the end does not make it a worthy adaptation. Because of the absence of the raw material that makes the novel so enticing, the movie’s effort to portray Pistone’s life on the big screen is subpar.

Right from the beginning, readers are submerged in Pistone’s account of the notorious Mafia trials in the 1980s. The audience learns that undercover FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone was responsible for the indictment of over a hundred known Mafia soldiers, which included the boss of every single major family (Pistone 13). Pistone could not travel anywhere without having to keep looking over his shoulder, for there was an ever-lasting hit contract out for his life. “His courageous story tells why” (Blumenthal). He had constant protection around him, and he could not even...

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... Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, by Joseph D. Pistone. Barnes and Noble. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2010.

“Inside the Mob: Agent Recalls ‘Game of Wits.’” Interview by Arnold H. Lubasch. The New York Times [New York] 26 Jan. 1988: B1+B4. ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Web. 26 Jan. 2010.

Maslin, Janet. “Donnie Brasco: Al Pacino as Gangster, A Guy Who’s Not Wise.” Rev. of Donnie Brasco, dir. Mike Newell. Movie Reviews: New York Times Review. N.p., 28 Feb. 1997. Web. 26 Jan. 2010.

Newell, Mike, dir. Donnie Brasco. Sony Pictures. 1997. DVD.

Pistone, Joseph D. Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia. Ed. Richard Woodley. New York: Signet Printing, 1987. Print.

Raab, Selwyn. “Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in Mafia. - book reviews.” Rev. of Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in Mafia, by Joseph D. Pistone. Find Articles. Gale, 2004. Web. 26 Jan. 2010.