Mega Python vs. Gatoroid (2011)
Director: Mary Lambert
Starring: Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, A Martinez
An extraordinary case of a film being so bad that it comes full circle to being utterly enjoyable to watch. Debbie Gibson and Tiffany rehash an old eighties pop rivalry as two women fighting both each other and a cast of hilariously bad CGI snakes and alligators. Remnants of a plot to do with reptiles on steroids is completely irrelevant in favour of gawking in sadistic admiration of the horrendous acting taking place before your eyes. Gibson and Tiffany provide enough cringeworthy moments to keep you interested in a ‘watching a car crash’ sort of way. 2/10.
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Donnie Brasco (1997)
Director: Mike Newell
Starring: Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Michael Madsen
Based on the true story of the famous undercover work done by Joseph D. Pistone to infiltrate the New York mafia, Johnny Depp stars as the eponymous policeman in a well crafted drama full of big names and big talent. The film is guilty at times of indulging in a bit too much stereotypical ‘wise guy’ talk and the cliched accents used by Pacino and Depp, whilst perhaps being close to the real thing, feel slightly heavy handed and parodic in comparison to other films of the genre. Nevertheless, a thrilling and suspenseful retelling of the true events. 7/10.
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The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Director: Scott Kalvert
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Lorraine Bracco
A gritty drama starring a young Leonardo DiCaprio as Jim Carroll, a bright teenage boy who falls in to a life of crime and drug addiction. The film is packed full of superb performances from its predominantly young cast including Mark Wahlberg, and takes a hard look at the desperation that befalls a heroin addict and the life of crime that more often than not follows to accommodate the expensive habit. The film is not perfect, but engaging throughout thanks to the charismatic cast and solid story telling. Definitely worth a watch. 8/10.
Oh! That Film Blog 
I love wise guy talk more than any pseudo-accent in movies. But Donnie Brasco made it the focus, drawing attention to something that should be more of a background device. I agree that it felt heavy handed. I never really liked Pacino in that role either, maybe because when I see him in mafia movies I only want to see Michael Corleone. I’m not a big fan of older Pacino (88 Minutes is one of my least favorite movies of all time. And not in a good-bad way).