Most Underrated Gangster Flick?

Man, I couldn't find this flick in Epinions' alphabetical movie listing! Whatever made crime movie buffs, and movie fans in general, overlook this one beats the hell out of me. Both co-stars got snubbed by the Academy despite awesome performances, and the romantic angle was such that the movie could have possibly transcended its genre had the subplot been explored more thoroughly. Of course, this is the stuff that perennial Oscar outrages and infamies are made of.
Johnny Depp is well on his way to becoming one of our greatest actors. Like De Niro, Oldman, and others in that class, he has explored the depths and breadth of character acting, developing his talent to the point where each new role is captured with unique and individual dimension. Seeing Depp give an Oscar-class performance in such an off-character role was indicative of his progress. As "Donnie Brasco" he proves that he can step into any part he chooses and play it with signature keys that continue to resound with greatness.
Al Pacino, like De Niro, has settled comfortably into more mature character roles. Gracefully giving place to a more youthful co-star, Pacino builds so solidly into Depp that, by mere definition, he should have been named the Best Supporting Actor. Although Depp's performance was superlative, it could not have been what it was without the excellence of Pacino alongside him. If audiences were endeared to his aging Michael Corleone, they should have been ever more so by his also-ran has-been Lefty Ruggiero living vicariously through his duplicitous young protege. Maybe we've grown used to his center-stage dynamism, but we shouldn't overlook the virtuosity of his more self-effacing performances either.
There's no shortage of talent in this one. Anne Heche is fabulous as Donnie's long-suffering wife, and Michael Madsen is proving to us that he's above and beyond your run-of-the-mill character actor. The intricacies of the sub-plots are such that you have to see this one over again to really appreciate what was happening to everyone in this true-life drama. This big-screen adaptation of FBI agent Joe Pistone's biography doesn't always concur with the book version, but Depp, Pacino and company make it work so well that you really don't care. You wouldn't have wanted to miss their interpretation.
This isn't only a must for crime flick lovers, but anyone else looking for an outstanding action drama. You might even want to have some Kleenex handy.