Donnie Brasco (1997) - Quotes

Behind Enemy Lines: A War on Crime

Taglines: In 1978, the US government waged a war against organized crime. One man was left behind the lines.

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Based On A True Story: Donnie Brasco

Taglines: Donnie Brasco. Based On A True Story.

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Trust and Betrayal in a Close Relationship

Donnie Brasco: [as Lefty points a revolver at him] You think I'm a fuckin rat?

Lefty: How many times I have you into my own house?

Donnie Brasco: Twice a week. Twice a week, at least.

Lefty: There it is. "At least." I cook for you.

Donnie Brasco: Yeah.

Lefty: If ever I had any money, I'd give you... I never had any money, but if ever I had a hundred bucks in my pocket, I'd give you fifty, right?

Donnie Brasco: Yeah, you did.

Lefty: [puts revolver to his own head] If you're a rat... ...if you're a rat, then I'm the biggest fuckin mutt in the history of the Mafia.

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Unexpected Requests in a Restaurant Setting

Japanese Waiter: Take your shoes off.

Donnie Brasco: Take my shoes off? You take your pants off, what the fuck.

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Frustration Over a Stubborn Problem

Sonny Black: Hey, will you fuckin stop that?

Lefty: How am I gonna get this thing open?

Lefty: Open Sesame!

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Hierarchy and Comparison in Organized Crime

Lefty: There's the boss. And, under him, there's the skipper. You know how this works?

Donnie Brasco: Yeah, it's like in the army.

Lefty: Bullshit. The army is some guy you don't know telling you to go whack some other guy you don't know.

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Discussion on John Wayne's Fate

Sonny Black: How can John Wayne die?

Lefty: Fuckin Indians got him.

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Nicky's Humorous Take on a Cold Situation

Nicky: The good news is, my dick is now a popsicle!

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A Request for Assistance in a Task

Nicky: [Lefty kills him] C'mon Donnie. Help me fillet this fat fuck.

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Longing for Freedom on the Water

Lefty: I wish I had that boat again, that Bertram. I'd get in my car with Annette, I'd drive down to the pier... I'd get on that boat, and I'd go. East, west, north, south, nobody ever finding me.

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Culinary Skills and Gender Perspectives

Lefty: Anywhere you go, all around the world, all the best cooks are men.

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Understanding Connections in Organized Crime

Lefty: [talking to Donnie] When I introduce you, I'm gonna say, "This is a friend of mine." That means you're a connected guy. Now if I said instead, "This is a friend of ours," that would mean you're a made guy. A Capisce?

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Lefty's Struggle with Illness

Lefty: I got cancer of the prick.

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Loyalty Amidst Danger and Betrayal

Lefty: I'd die with you, Donnie.

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The Absolute Certainty of a Wise Guy

Lefty: A wise guy's always right. Even when he's wrong, he's right.

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A Grateful Acknowledgment of Loyalty

Lefty: And listen to me, if Donnie calls... , tell him... if it was gonna be anyone, I'm glad it was him. All right?

Existential Reflection on Identity and Purpose

Lefty: Who the fuck am I? Who am I? I'm a, a spoke on a wheel. And so was he, and so are you.

The Code of the Wiseguy

Lefty: How much money did you give that guy? A wiseguy never pays for his drinks.

The Harsh Reality of Loyalty in Crime

Lefty: In our thing, you get sent for, you go in alive, you come out dead, and it's your best friend that does it.

Life's Upside Down After a Boss's Death

Lefty: I never hear from my boss until he dies, then my whole life gets turned upside down!

Lefty's Global Reputation in the Underworld

Lefty: In all the five boroughs, I'm known, forget about it. I'm known all over the fuckin world. Anybody, ask anybody about Lefty from Mulberry Street, eh? You pissin up the wrong fuckin tree, my friend.

Struggling with Identity and Morality

Donnie Brasco: All my life I've tried to be the good guy, the guy in the white fucking hat. And for what? For nothing. I'm not becoming like them; I am them.

Consequences of Survival and Loyalty

Donnie Brasco: If I come out alive, this guy, Lefty, ends up dead. That's the same thing as me putting the bullet in his head myself.

The Many Meanings of "Forget About It

Donnie Brasco: Forget about it," it's like, uh, if you agree with someone. You know, like, "Raquel Welch is one great piece of ass, forget about it." But then, if you disagree, like, "A Lincoln is better than a Cadillac? Forget about it!" You know? But then, it's also like, if something is the greatest thing in the world, like, "Minghia, those peppers! Forget about it!" But it's also like saying "go to hell," too. You know, like, uh, "Hey, Paulie, you got a one-inch pecker," and Paulie says, "Forget about it!"... Sometimes it just means, uh, "forget about it.