You know that feeling one gets when right at the very start you know this movie will stick with you forever...well, I saw this movie YEARS ago and I bought the DVD recently and YUP & WOW...it stuck and was even better the second time around! State Of Grace is a classic! It only got a mild reception at the box office because Goodfellas came out the same time. Trust me, everyone in it gave great performances, but Sean Penn and Gary Oldman were AMAZING! The script was a bit typical if you watch lots of mob movies, but the cast pulled it off in such a way that you'll watch it over and over. Penn plays an undercover cop named Terry Noonan. He's assigned to go back were he grew up...Hell's Kitchen to try and end the corruption and basic mob actions of the Irish and Italians. The Irish gang is led by Ed Harris and his brother, who just happens to be Sean Penn's BEST FRIEND growing up. I don't want to give too much away, but trust me, you'll love it's power and emotion! State Of Grace IS TERRIFIC!Read full review
Terry Noonan returns home to New York's Hells Kitchen after a ten year absence. He soon hooks up with childhood pal Jackie who is involved in the Irish mob run by his brother Frankie. Terry also rekindles an old flame with Jackie's sister Kathleen. Soon, however, Terry is torn between his loyalty to his friends and his loyalties to others. "State of Grace" has all the violence, foul language and hot-headed characters that are part and parcel of this sort of movie, but at its core is a very well worked plot, bolstered by some great characterisation. The characters are the main focus point in this movie, and it's through their motivations that the plot is allowed to move. A movie that puts so much focus on its characters needs a strong cast in order to work, and this movie certainly has that. Sean Penn is marvelous. The music and atmosphere combine with the shockingly realistic violence to ensure that the movie is always gritty and unrelenting. "State of Grace" comes with high recommendations.Read full review
what does Gary Oldman have to do to win an Oscar for one of his performances! this guy is amazing. he does such a brilliant job of portraying his character in this movie, that if you didn't know he was English (as many of you may not), you would never have known he really wasn't an Irish hood from Hell's Kitchen. oh, and Sean Penn isn't bad either. this is a great film. i really can't describe just how good it is. one must view it, and take it all in, to really appreciate the great performances in it. i have seen this picture maybe 10 times, and i never tire of it. all the actors are steller in this, and one only needs to see some of Oldman's other performances (Brahm Stoker's Dracula, The Professional, True Romance, to name a few), that this may be his finest hour. do yourself a favor, see this one. it's worth every penny.Read full review
ACTING ...GREAT! SETTING...GREAT! DIRECTING...GREAT! WHAT A GREAT JOB BY GARY OLDMAN, AS USUAL. SEAN PENN & ED HARRIS AS USUAL, EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCES. HOWEVER THE WRITING MUST'VE RUN OUT OF IDEAS AND DECIDED TO END THIS QUITE ABRUPTLY. THE ENDING WAS ALMOST LIKE "COMMANDO"; UNREALISTIC & UNMOVING FOR SUCH WORK TO DRAW YOU INTO THESE CHARACTERS PERSONALLY. NOWHERE NEAR THE TOP OF THE MOB MOVIE CHAIN...THE GODFATHERS, THE CASINO'S, THE GOODFELLAS, THE ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA'S, THE SCARFACE'S, THE DONNIE BRASCO'S, THE BLOW'S OR THE CARLITO'S WAY'S. I'D LIKE TO CALL MYSELF A MOB MOVIE BUFF & IF YOU APPRECIATE THE OTHER'S MENTIONED AND HAVE SEEN ALL, I REPEAT, ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED MOB MOVIE PENNACLE ACHIEVEMENTS, YOU WILL NOT ENJOY THIS MOVIE AS AN HISTORIC CONTRIBUTION TO THIS ELITE GENRE OF GANGSTA! GOOD WATCH BUT A LETDOWN. BEST GARY OLDMAN SINCE THE PROFESSIONAL.Read full review
Great movie and has three of my favorite actors. Gary Oldman plays his character to perfection as does Ed Harris and Sean Penn. This movie draws you in and never lets up with a great plot and filmed on local. Terrific and exciting ending, well directed. A must see for mobster lovers.
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