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THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY FEATURES March 11, 1997 PAGE 11 THE I?EEL DEAL / MOVIE REVIEWS Bonnie Brasco: Married to the Mob Pacino and Depp Clash in Mike Newell's Smart Crime Epic Jamie Peck Retriever Weekly Staff Writer In 1978, the FBI infiltrated the mafia by using agents like Joe Pistone to pose as small-time crimi- nals. In Pistone's case, he was taken under the wing of mob member Lefty Ruggiero where he got a glimpse of the notorious gangster activity that defined the era. His story is the basis for Mike Newell's Donnie Brasco (***'/2), an in- credible and subtly moving look at trust in the gravest of circum- Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly stances. Howard Stern wines and dines wife Alison (Mary McCormack) in a scene from Private Parts, the Pistone, who operates under title new comedy based on his best-selling autobiography. pseudonym, is played by Johnny Depp and Al Pacino stars as Lefty. Brian Hamill / Mandalay Entertainment They meet in the very first scene, Aging hit-man Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino) confides in Joe The Critic vs. Howard Stern and immediately the actors bring Pistone (Johnny Depp), an FBI agent masquerading as a small- out the best in each other. Lefty time gangster under the name of Donnie Brasco. Private Parts Charts the Shock Jock's Full-Frontal Radio Assault becomes a kind of father figure to the group entering a Japanese restau- still a great movie. Pistone, and lets him fill the void rant where it is custom to remove Paul Attanasio, the scribe of the Jamie Peck ful goddess in white flowing robes. seems to want to glorify Stern him- caused by his own distant, drug- one's shoes while eating. If Pistone flawless film adaptations of Quiz Retriever Weekly Staff Writer Cute. Stern gets on college radio, self (in one crowd scene, he cries out, addicted son. removes his, he exposes his hidden Show and Disclosure, has written where he really botches things, but "We are gathered here today in praise In a powerful moment, he tells tap. The way it plays out is unex- two masterly roles for Pacino and I am not a Howard Stern fan. I've decides to advance in it as a career of me!"), and attempts to present him Pistone something that will fore- pected and horrifying. Depp. Pacino has done this kind never taken the time to listen to his anyway. as just a harmless, horny guy. This, I shadow most of the events to come: Pistone also has an implosive re- of picture before, but he brings a radio show or read his books simply Private Parts follows Stern's other know, is not true; he's tried to find "If I say you're a friend of mine, lationship with his wife Maggie self-examining maturity to his per- because I haven't found humor in the deejay mishaps for a while before he humor in situations where it's just not that means you're connected. If I (Anne Heche from The Juror), who formance as Lefty. This is fantas- antics raunchy enough to get him on marries Alison. And when he finally possible (jibing pop singer Selena's say you're a friend of ours, that loves him but fears his professional tic acting by Depp as well, ranking the news. And even after seeing Pri- lands a job in Washington, D.C., and death, for example, forced him to means you're a made guy. If I in- life. The line is thin between right up there with his title role in vate Parts' (**'/2 out of four), the begins the transition to raunch radio, make a public apology). Some of his troduce you, I'm responsible for Pistone's care for his family and his Tim Burton's Ed Wood. film adaptation of his best-selling the movie establishes the dilemma of antics are just plain bad taste, and you. Anything wrong with you, I newly found respect for Lefty. Here's a great scene to illustrate autobiography, I'm still not a fan. But husband-and-wife tolerance, espe- Private Parts leaves that out in an go down." Mike Newell seems like the wrong how everything meshes so well to- the movie isn't interested in making cially when the husband gets on the attempt to market Stern as a non- At first, Pistone is drawn into a director for this somber affair; he's gether: When Donnie arrives at his him new fans. It wants to explain radio and discusses his marital sex malicious walking hormone. That's camaraderie with Lefty's crew with directed such sunny farces as En- mentor's apartment for Christmas what Stern is all about, and, for the life. short-changing those who know bet- uncertain ease. They include vola- chanted April and Four Weddings dinner, Lefty is sitting in an easy most part, it does a good job. Stern's humor is the kind you ei- ter. tile Sonny Black (Michael Mad- and a Funeral. But this movie is chair, watching a lion on the prowl The first hour of Private Parts is ther like or you don't, so here the But I think I can still recommend sen), watchful Paulie (James more a cerebral character study than in a nature program. Lefty's wife the movie's strongest asset, charting movie began to lose momentum for the film. Stern's relationship with Russo) and wisecracking Nicky a Martin Scorcese-esque bloodbath, announces, "He loves animals." As Stern's rise from misfit to the begin- me; I find it offensively stereotyped Alison is a good angle to play off of, (Bruno Kirby, doing a Joe Pesci in which case Newell's job is totally predator devours prey, cut to a shot ning of his status as a cultural icon. and redundant (what new and shock- and by Private Parts' end, you get impersonation right down to syn- on the money. And even though we of Lefty shiftily smiling, nodding Highlights from his childhood in^ ing things can Howard do now?). the feeling their love will last even tax). Soon, however, Pistone's faith are initially given little background in acknowledgement. Character elude his father's branding of him as When Stern is being rude, it's occa- though the movie doesn't always of- is tested in increasingly turbulent into whom Joe Pistone is (a slight but development has never been so de- a "moron" and a naughty puppet sionally difficult for me not to sym- fer a sense of closure to their clashes. ways. One scene, for example, has unusual oversight), Donnie Brasco is liriously sly. show performed at a retirement home pathize with those he's offending. And there are scenes that are so that very well could have signified Granted, most every scene of Private bizarrely funny and original they rank to Stern what he could get away with Parts is entertaining — especially the as crowd-pleasers. Chief among them in the future. early ones — but it's-disappointing is a radio segment where Stern and Stern begins playing himself as that what starts out strong and funny cohorts Fred Norris, Robin Quivers soon as Private Parts examines his ends up (well, for me) straining and and Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling college experience. As he maneuvers raunchy. (all playing themselves) try to slide around the campus in his 6'4" glory, I suppose Private Parts faces an past radio regulations by using a reference is made as to how "sus- inevitable comparison to — and an naughty words in a not-so-naughty pension of disbelief" will be required inevitable backlash like -- Milos manner. You'll know what I mean if for this role, but the truth is that he's Forman's The People Vs. Larry you see the movie; let's just say that pretty credible and relaxed in front Flynt, which told the story of the con- I will probably smile every time I of the camera. Playing yourself in a troversial Hustler publisher. Femi- hear a rooster. film is both the easiest and most dif- nists protested that the movie barely The bottom line is that I went into ficult task Hollywood could ask, but touched Flynt's hardcore lifestyle, Private Parts not liking Stern but Stern probably has an acting career but I had to defend the film on the prepared to give him a chance. I came to fall back on if people ever get tired grounds that Forman's responsibility out of the theater entertained but of the radio thing. lies with making a good movie and without any new admiration for the Anyhow, it is in college where not telling all the facts. It's not as guy. In fact, I think he's mean and Stern meets his future wife Alison, though he chose to glorify what Flynt crass and a jerk. "I grow on you like played by Murder One's Mary did ~ he glorified every American's a fungus," Stern comments during McCormack. Their first meeting ap- right to free speech. the movie. That very well may be, plies a nice cinematic touch; when Here's where things get tricky for but for me, it's a fungus that I'd still he lays eyes on her, he sees a beauti- me as a film critic. Private Parts like to get rid of. Also Playing at Your Local Theater... Capsule reviews by Jamie Peck. Absolute Power (**'A) After a psycho- sexually provocative opening half-hour, Clint Eastwood's story of a presidential sex scandal and its ineffective cover-up gives in to too many plot holes and unintention- ally silly scenes.

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