Donnie Brasco
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Frank Vincent
mercury4 — 10 years ago(April 15, 2015 02:36 PM)
I always felt that Michael Madsen was so miscast in that movie as Sonny Black. I would've picked Armand Assante, Chazz Palminteri, Ray Sharkey (if he was living) or Frank Vincent for the part. Definitely not Madsen. I saw a picture of the real Sonny Black that reminded me of Vincent.
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manage-932-700755 — 10 years ago(April 19, 2015 05:29 PM)
What bothered you about Madsen as Sonny Black? I thought he was great. Vincent may have been too old and possibly not menacing enough, notwithstanding his peformance as the Chcago mass murderer- Lou Maranzano.
Of course, Assante would have been perfect. But he would have been a supporting, not lead actor- not sure if he would have gone for it.
I know people have said Madsen looks Irish, not Italian, but that didn't bother me. Of course, I have always liked Madsen. And Vincent too, for that matter. -
mercury4 — 10 years ago(April 20, 2015 04:28 AM)
Madsen does look Irish and I just didn't buy him as Sonny Black. Or an Italian mobster for that matter. I like him as an actor. But in Donnie Brasco he looked out of place. I have nothing against people that aren't Italian playing Italians if they can pull it off. But in this case, Madsen was very out of place. I didn't mind James Caan playing Sonny. I didn't mind Paul Muni playing Tony Camonte in Scarface. I didn't mind Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli. But Michael Madsen was all wrong as Sonny Black. Frank Vincent could've pulled it off. I thought Armand Assante would've been great or Chazz Palminteri. I think Ray Sharkey would've been another good choice.