This movie tells the true story of the FBI agent who had to infiltrate one of the biggest mob families, but as he moves deeper into the Mafia chain of command he realises he is crossing the line towards becoming a criminal himself.
In 1978, the US government waged a war against organized crime. FBI agent Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp) has been given his orders to infiltrate the mafia of New York in order to uncover the bosses behind the major crime organizations and to put them behind bars.
Befriending the luckless mob veteran Lefty Ruggiero (Al Palcino) who becomes his mentor, Pistone - now under the pseudonym, Donnie Brasco - is able to em-bed himself in a mafia faction lead by Sonny Black (Michael Madsen) in order to get a foothold in the organisation.
Ruggiero and Pistone become tight as the group goes about collecting money for 'the bosses'. However, eventually the group become big time when Black himself becomes a boss, all the while Pistone is collecting much valued evidence.
However, the trials and tribulations of the undercover work become more than Pistone can bear. His marriage falls apart and to top it off, the mafia suspect a mole is active within the organization.
The real dilemma is afforded to Pistone, who knows if he walks away from the mafia, Ruggiero will be the one punished!