Tag: Donnie Brasco

  • Discovery uncovers true stories of reality-based movies

    Discovery uncovers true stories of reality-based movies

    MUMBAI: Discovery Channel is launching a new series Real story of… which will premiere on 26 November and will air every Sunday at 10 pm. The series uncovers true stories behind some of the Oscar-nominated movies of recent years to separate fact from fiction.

    Discover how Louis Zamperini, subject of Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken, underwent his biggest transformation after the plot of the movie ended and the reality behind the movie depiction of American Sniper Chris Kyle.

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific VP and head of premium and digital networks South Asia Zulfia Waris said, “The iconic movies featured in the series are classics that appeal to audience across the world. The series will reveal interesting facets to these stories that will surprise as well as entertain viewers. For instance, it isn’t widely known that Donnie Brasco’s character, an FBI agent (played by Johnny Depp), was supposed to be undercover for a few months and it ended up being six years.”

  • Chill like a gangster every weekend

    Chill like a gangster every weekend

    MUMBAI: Gangsters. They’re an evil, uncouth, unlawful lot, causing a real menace to the society. That, usually, is our outlook towards gangsters and in most parts is true. What we don’t focus on though, is the backstory that pushed them into becoming the way they are. What made Gangsters… ‘Gangsters?’ This is a question Star Movies Select HD answers with their new festival ‘Gangsters of Hollywood.’ Airing every Saturday and Sunday at 9PM, from the 18th of November, Star Moves Select HD brings some hard-hitting narratives around Gangsters and their backstories.

    With 10 movies that take you through riveting stories, Star Movies Select HD keeps its promise of showing its viewers premium content, through this festival; the likes of which include:

    Donnie Brasco

    In Donnie Brasco, see how an undercover FBI agent Joseph D Pistone infiltrates a crime organisation in New York, only to slowly sympathise with them, and leaving the viewer with an essential question, will the Undercover agent become like the very organisation which he had to clean up?

    The French Connection

    The French Connection is an Academy Award winning film which takes us through the story of two NYPD Detectives, Jimmy Doyle and Buddy Russo. See how they try and bring down a crime syndicate which deals with smuggling drugs.

    Desperado

    In the Antonio Banderas starrer Desperado, the story of how a man locates a drug lord, and seeks revenge against him, earning plaudits from people. The amount of rawness that was there in the story of the Mariachi trying to complete his mission gives us the chills!

    Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

    Amongst other films also catch some classics like the American Crime drama, The Drop, starring Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini. Or the Australian drama Animal Kingdom starring Guy Pierce and Joel Edgerton. There is also the British crime comedy Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, starring Sting and the debutant Jason Statham.

    With such diversity in genres and different perspectives on the life of the crime world, you are sure to be kept entertained by Star Movies Select HD. Sounds like a good enough reason to keep your schedule free every Saturday and Sunday for a 9PM show? Watch these amazing movies, explore the intricacies of human emotion. For beneath all the greed and violence, there is a story to tell, and so much to explore.

  • Tony Lip no more

    Tony Lip no more

    MUMBAI: Veteran actor Tony Lip, best known for his portrayal of mob kingpin Carmine Lupertazzi in The Sopranos passed away on 4 January. The exact cause of his death is unknown. According to family members the actor‘s health had been failing in recent years.

    He also portrayed real-life Bonanno crime family mobster Philip Giaccone, in Donnie Brasco, and real-life Lucchese crime family mobster Francesco Manzo, in Goodfellas.

    It was at the Copacabana Nightclub where Lip first met Francis Ford Coppola and Louis DiGiamo who made his first film-debut in The Godfather but in a very small role. He also co-wrote his own book in 2005 named Shut Up And Eat!

    Born Frank Anthony Vallelonga, played minor league baseball in North Carolina with the St Louis Browns organization, later served in the American Army from 1951 to 1953 in Germany.