Pistone, as Donnie Brasco, was tenacious and amazing as an undercover. He deserves an Oscar for his performance, but I'm curious to know what others think about him, especially now, with the sunglasses and all.

What pistone did took major balls. I remember him tellin a story that he had to talk his way outta gettin whacked during a meeting. And after that he still continued his undercover operation. Pistone def got my respect. Sad to see the fbi reward him with $500 for all the shit he went through. Law enforcement can be scum at times, but joe pistone is the real deal.

I enjoyed the story. But I find it ironic how the fbi set out to infiltrate the mob because of its illegal activities and as a result Sonny Black and Mirra get whacked. Pistone shrugs it off as it's all part of the game. Yet he wears his ridiculous sunglasses and makes the $500k contract claim. To me that's all part of the game. I grew up and live close by to wear they had the Florida night club. It was a little town north of Tampa on the gulf coast. I wish that place was still open. Instead, well, just watch live pd when they're in Pasco. Because that's where the club was. After they got busted, one of the local sheriff's who was on the pay role ended up killing himself. They busted a back room casino. Way to go guys. Now the Seminole Indians run a casino in talks with video roulette, tons of slots, black Jack, poker, and no other table games. Drinks are through the roof and a couple of years ago they tried making you pay for parking. The fbi needs to get their priorities straight.

Yes I respect him. He did an excellent job first and foremost. It took balls the size of grapefruits to go that deep undercover in that world. And he didn't just convince in any one aspect of it. He convinced these guys he was the real deal in almost every conceivable regard. I've watched a lot of mob documentaries, and there is one or two in particular, where agents who went undercover are interviewed - and even to me as a television viewer I cringe at how unconvincing and transparent they are in portraying wiseguys. Maybe some people have the impression this stuff is easier than it looks. I mean it's not like he was going undercover as a social justice warrior or something. That's easy. Try going undercover as a soccer hooligan or a gay person in order to solve a crime in those circles. It would be like trying to learn Dutch in two weeks.

So what if he exaggerates? He's an old man now and it's probably the most action, and most excitement, he got in his professional life, the highlight of his career. He did a good job, let him enjoy his moment in the sun.

He did a difficult job, and obviously he did it well. However, I heard that he did do things that undercover agents shouldn't do, although I can't personally confirm those claims. Though it does stand to reason that for the length of time he was undercover, he had to do some things that were probably against FBI rules. But in the end, results are what the FBI wants and even if he did break some protocol he sent a lot of bad guys to prison.

I agree with Moe. Pistone went undercover in the 1970s when the mob was still powerful and don't full of rats like today,he spent 6 y of his life and risked everyday to be killed.The 500k contract on his head may be exaggerated but for sure he watched his back if a fucked wannabe would whack him for made a reputation in the mob corner. If the gambinos send a hit squadin arizona for Sammy the bull who can't say that the bonannos thinked to do the same.

Co-signed 100%

We also have to remember that Pistone went undercover for 5 years, during a time when the Mob was totally different than it is today. The late 70's and early 80's were probably the most violent time period in the history of crime in NYC. The man dealt as an undercover agent with a total psycho killer like Tony Mirra on a daily fuckin' basis for chrissake!! That took balls, PERIOD..

And yes, Pistone loves the image he portrays in all those documentaries and interviews, with the sunglasses and shit, but like Moe said: ''So fucking what??''
Franzese even said in that interview he did with that guy from Valuetainement, that when they did interviews or lectures together, most people thought Pistone was the former wiseguy and Franzese the former FBI agent LOL

Agreed Moe. Besides the fact that he went undercover at a time when the Mob was very powerful he also missed out on family functions,his kids growing up,and even when his wife had a horrific car accident. He did his job and was mentally tough. Did he exaggerate some things? Possibly but doesnt change the fact that he was a big reason why the mob started to crack

LOL, but well said I agree 100%.

Johnny Depp played him in a movie. He must lay in bed sometimes and think about that, to this day. 'Johnny Depp played me in a movie. Johnny Depp played me in a movie'. He should walk around every day in a t-shirt that says that.... probably not around Brooklyn, though.

For the people who haven't seen it yet, here is a great interview with Pistone by Patrick Bet-David:

PIstone started his lies of a hit out on him when he was still young, and capitalized on it with not only 2 books when one would have done, but tv shows and his doing interview after interview where he repeats his big lie about the hit on him.

It was actually Kefauver and Bobby Kennedy who were the catalysts. They laid the framework for ending the control of unions and politicians, limiting the rackets to the streets.

If the Mafia do the hit, the work must be done for free. That's just a part of being a made man. (That's what Michael Franzese said, anyway.) But if a non-Mafia guy gets the chance to whack Pistone, maybe that's when the hit-money is paid. (Not sure, just sayin')

Was Tony Mirra dating the actress Goldie Hawn when she was strung out on heroin? I know she was linked to a wiseguy who was bisexual and liked group sex.

Mirra doesn't seem like that type of guy to me.

These Tony Mirra stories have gotten out of hand. He was a bad guy, but the new rumors and stories about him keep popping up years after he is dead. In a few more years someone will post that he was involved in AntiFa, Russian Collusion, and fixing upcoming World Series.

What he did was incredible, and the only really great infiltration by any agent. Jack Gariai/Falcone exaggerates, but Pistone was for real. However his going over the top ruins his rep to me. He was never going to be made, nor was Garcia.Pistone got very deep with that crew, but he never got involved to any serious degree with he Genovese, Gambino, and others. Sonny Black taking him to meet Traficante is an all time screw up by the mob, and great for by an agent. Psitone should have just stuck to the truth, his lies since have tarnished his image, except to fanboys.

I heard he just banged her when she was a nobody..didn't know she was on H..

DePalma is actually on tape saying that he got the OK for Falcone/Garcia to be made.. It could be of course that DePalma was merely stringing Garcia along, maybe to get some bigger envelopes or something like that..

I highly respect Pistone for is accomplishment..alas, until when my wife & I went 2 see him @The Free Library of Phila. 4 a book signing & lecture & he mentioned that he totally supports & respects Lin DeVecchio…...my opinion of him lowered greatly.

The irony!

DeVecchio was the one who said "We're gonna win this thing" to another agent, while openly rooting for one side in the Colombo war. This is where the Sopranos got the line.

HEY DONNIE! HEY DONNIE! YOU FUCKIN RAT!


But seriously, I too think Moe summed it up pretty well. The sunglasses and 500k contract thing is getting old, but the guy did an amazing job. However, hoodlum makes a good point that I had forgotten about. The support of DeVecchio.

He also supported Dirty Agent Connolly in Boston.

Spoken like a true deluded fanboy. No irony, just truth.

Fanboy of an FBI agent?

I suppose you think kids should look up to people like the Gotti's instead of athletes or firemen or police.

Such delusion.

Reminds me of Gotti rooting for Iraq to win the Gulf War and for American soldiers to die when himself and Gravano were watching the news in the MCC.

Yu belive Gravano's made up story? Every topic on Gotti or Merlino is interrupted by you preaching to us, you had no ned here to start stuff with me, so back off. I did not say anything about you.

Yes. Everything Gravano says is a lie and everything the Gotti's say is the gospel truth. Because the Gotti's are so honest and forthright.

Enough with the persecution complex BTW. You reply to threads I create and comments I make and I don't say anything. Stop moaning whenever I post something you don't like.

The "Pistone fanboys" comment was clearly shade directed at me, too. How stupid do you think we are?

He had balls, no doubt. He didn't need to hurt his credibility with the sunglasses and $500K "bounty" he claims he still has on his head, that's preposterous. I remember when that "Falcone" show was out, which I guess was sort of a more fictionalized version of Donnie Brasco, he was doing promos for it on Letterman, getting interviewed with the glasses. They had some gag as if some mob guys were attempting to whack him while he was being interviewed, which I thought was pretty funny. In the show he plays a bartender and the episode I saw he helps garrote some guy from behind the bar and he wasn't even wearing his trademark sunglasses in the role, ha. So he plays that up and I don't blame him. Why wouldn't you?

Was that "Falcone" show any good? I have some VHS tapes from when I recorded it while it was airing, but I think it ended up getting cancelled pretty quick. Titus Welliver played the "Sonny" Black type role and he was good, he's a good actor. Jason Gedrick was the Pistone or "Falcone" role.

I think you are stupid, not others on site, so don't say "We". I never ever said I believe everything Gotti says, and I directed no comment to you. This is the third time you have started arguing with me. I asked you to knock it off, yet you keep it going and blame me. Last time, leave me alone.