Michael Madsen miscast
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Raven0024 — 12 years ago(July 11, 2013 08:44 PM)
I think he was excellent & I thought he was Italian the first time I saw it. Stallone I don't think so. Assante was perfect as Gotti but I think Michael was the perfect choice. He's a real badass but very likable. So what that he doesn't look like the real guy, Johnny doesn't look like Pistone either. Speaking as a woman they did Pistone & Sonny B major justice by having such gorgeous men playing them.
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MIJACology — 12 years ago(July 28, 2013 10:12 PM)
I kindly disagree.
Armand Assante would probably look more like the real Sonny Black, and yes he is Italian, but Michael Madsen is scary.
That scariness is what was needed to create the tension in this film that was felt by Joe Pistone during his years undercover. You identify with the lead character (Donnie Brasco) as he navigates shark infested waters to complete his mission as a mole. Michael Madsen is one of the only actors that can really scare a person without the typical cliche horror movie soundtrack to go along with a movie. He's scary just by turning around and looking at you. -
Getoboy730 — 12 years ago(August 06, 2013 05:01 PM)
WHile I think Madsen did a great job, mainly because he's very intimidating. I read about Sonny Red and Madsen fits his description better.
And Stallone coulda worked. In the 70's he play believable gangsters. He was Frank Nitti in Capone and did a great job. It probably helped his career almost as much as Rocky did. I saw him play another gangster in a different movie, not sure of the name, but he works as a mobster. However, at this point of his career, casting Stallone woulda made the movie look like a mob spoof, like when he played Snaps Provolone in Oscar.
Asante coulda done it. But it shoulda him as Black and Madsen as Red. That said, Sonny Red's actor did a great job. And Bruno Kirby seemed like the only one out of place. And that's why he got smacked by Madsen. Just kidding on the last sentence.
Embrace Debate. -
knifeparty2004 — 12 years ago(November 29, 2013 10:50 PM)
I disagree, I dont think the actor has to look like the real person. Depp didnt look like Pistone either but he did fine. As did Madsen. Madsen had an intimidating presence which was right for the role. Stallone is only 59 and Im not sure he could have pulled the wiseguy accent.
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spookyrat1 — 12 years ago(December 10, 2013 04:22 AM)
Madsen had an intimidating presence which was right for the role.
There's not too many other actors that do edginess as well as Michael Madson. Once things got underway, it never occurred to me in any way that he was physically miscast for the role. -
knifeparty2004 — 9 years ago(July 06, 2016 11:05 PM)
Stallone's facial paralysis and slurred speech, severely limits his vocal range. Not sure what you mean but Stallone has the same accent/voice in every one of his films and he definitely doesn't sound like a NY gangster.
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tyrexden — 12 years ago(February 04, 2014 12:00 PM)
I don't think the film-makers cared much about portraying the 'real' guy acccurately. Whatever Madsen brought to the role, that was HIS character.
Believing him as the real guy is secondary to buying him as the character he is playing. I believed him as the character he was playing. Sort youngish, imposing and crazy, coming up into a role in the family that was new to him, and him putting a stamp on it, doing things his own way. -
manage-932-700755 — 9 years ago(July 09, 2016 02:46 PM)
If you read the book about Donne Brasco, you can see that Madsen very closely resembled the Sonnie Black character. I don't care whther he looks Italian or not. He lloks like a vicious and smart gangster and gangster boss.
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Ironman54 — 12 years ago(March 24, 2014 10:57 PM)
I like his acting and have nothing against the guy at all so I hope no one takes offense to this but:
He reminds more of someone from Mayberry or Mt Pilot NC maybe, not NYC mob. Maybe the bad ass, crazy cousin of Gomer Pyle and I mean that in a good way. I dunno what it is about his looks that says 'southern' or mid western or, even from Chicago just not Brooklyn. One of Capones gang or riding along with Dillinger ? Yep, no problemo.
I think it maybe his build and facial characteristics say 'corn fed'. Not bull dog enough. Al is no bull dog type either but he still has 'the look' down + hes from NYC. It works. If Mr Green Jeans was a Don . Oh, I suspect I'm gonna really p*ss some off here - not my intention, sorry. -
endc_infinite — 11 years ago(September 01, 2014 03:51 PM)
Years and years have gone by and I still believe this movie did not live to its 100% potential just because of that, the fact Michael Madsen does not even look italian and his playing an italian mob captain, in a Mafia so tight and restricted to its membershipJesus Christ! this is not the role for him but oh well just goes down in history next to Keanu Reeves' Jonathan Harper
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ShannonTriumphant — 11 years ago(September 23, 2014 10:23 AM)
I agree as far as his looks but he has a certain nastiness about him (and often does in other films, even as a "nice guy" in "Thelma and Louise") that made him believable as the petty, bullying jerk that Sonny Black was, especially to Lefty. I think his sleaziest scene is when he highjacks the boat cruise from Lefty, taking all the credit for Lefty and Joey's work, and there's nothing they can do about it. His insulting, opportunistic actions made Lefty's role even more pathetic, and hence, Joey's allegiance to him more believable.
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russianitalian — 11 years ago(December 05, 2014 07:17 AM)
This thread is kind of funny to me. I'm half Italian and so half of my family are Italian. I know the stereotype of Italian men is that they are all olive skinned, tanned, white guys with black hair.
There are some like that in my family. My father who is 100% Italian is fairly pale and has light brown hair.
Even so though what amuses me is everyone keeps saying what the real Sonny Black looked like with black hair etc
According to a whole bunch of sources online, Sonny Black was a natural blond (yes you do get them in Italy), so he himself didn't look like the "stereotypical Italian"!
"Dominick Sonny Black Napolitano came into this world on June 16, 1930 and was raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn where he got his start as a petty thief. Although his descendants were from Naples, Italy, he was born with blond hair and as he grew into adulthood died it jet black which earned him the nickname Sonny Black."
http://americanmafiahistory.com/sonny-black/