As promised, over the next 10 Mondays, we review some mob classics and see what we can observe and learn.
FOUNDER: JOSEPH BONANNO
Joseph Pistone’s Lessons from the Bonanno Crime Family:
1. Don’t embarrass the mafia guy in front of other people.
2. Don’t lay your hands on the mafia guy.
3. Don’t lose your credibility or respect on the street. If you lose either, you’re finished. Take a beating, or go to war.
Main protagonists:
1. Joseph Pistone/ Donnie Brasco : Johnny Depp
2. Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero: Al Pacino
3. Sonny Black: Micheal Madsen
4. Sonny Red: Robert Miano
Keep your nose clean, be a good earner, follow the rules, and who knows, maybe one day when they open the books, you’ll get straightened out… become a wise guy… a made guy
Lefty.
Donnie Brasco, based on true life events, tells the tale of a federal agent living a double life seeking to bring down the Bonanno crime family while posing as a jeweller. This movie doesn’t highlight so much of the inner workings and values of the mafia. It focuses mainly on infiltration, language, and hierarchy that the mafia assimilate.
Donnie was first recognised as a new guy around the local mafia bar by Benjamin “lefty” Ruggiero, and after an inquiry, he learns that Donnie is a jeweller, or atleast posing to be one. Needing the services of a jeweller, Lefty soon finds himself befriending Donnie almost as if it were just for a favour. Donnie conducts himself in an impressive manner when doing him the favor, and Lefty’s left with nothing but to repay the favour,– in a world of allegiances, trading favors, and ability to execute it was only right. Lefty introduces Donnie to the Bonanno Crime Family mafia as “a friend of mine” clearly making the distinction between “a friend of ours” the former meaning you’re a connected guy, you know people and the latter meaning you’re a “made” guy, in the inner circle. After this introduction, Donnie goes on to do tasks as lefty’s guy far away from the reach of the leader of the crime family — Sonny Red.
Sooner rather than later, Donnie discovers that juggling between mafioso, federal agent, and family man is not easy or effective. He goes in full mafioso, which leads to a struggle in family life and handling FBI reports.
Donnie helps Sonny Black, mafia capo (captain) scale and move operations to Florida, which proves to be better than New York, better weather, women, and more lucrative. This didn’t happen for long enough because of a raid from state police which was believed to be a tip to authorities. At this point, tension in the family was insurmountable.
Back in New York, work is carried out to try and snuff out who the rat might be. After an exchange of fire within the family, Lefty has a clue of who this might be, but before he can confirm who the rat is, the FBI comes in and blows the lid on the operation.
The story of a Sicilian agent who infiltrated and outwitted the mafia for 6 six years rising through the ranks to bring the whole organisation crumbling.
Joseph continues to live out his days under an alias in seclusion, with a $500,000 bounty on his head.
INFILTRATION: earn street cred. If you want to be considered part of the in group of the mafioso you have to do your ground work, become a person of interest. Unless you are formally introduced, you don’t have much going for you.
Which would hurt more betrayal of a friend or betrayal from a family member? The mafia recruited people who had direct heritage to sicily so that they could trace their roots. And here we see Joseph Pistone, an FBI agent who had sicilian heritage, easily misled Lefty and the entire mob.
What other things did I leave out that you recognised?
Godspeed
PJM.
Pieces Journal & Musings 