Customer Reviews

State of Grace [Region 2]

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

New York City's "Hell's Kitchen" is always a great setting for mob movies (for obvious reasons), and here it is used to perfection by director Phil Joanou. Add to that an impressive cast (Sean Penn, Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, and John Turturro) plus wonderful music by one of the world's greatest composers, Ennio Morricone, and you've got a gripping character-driven mob story. By the way, has anyone noticed that Morricone's score for State of Grace is amazingly similar to his score for Oliver Stone's film U-Turn? Oh well, who cares, I love Morricone's music!

Terry Noonan (Sean Penn), an undercover cop, has just returned to his old Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. His goal: infiltrate Frankie Flannery's (Ed Harris) Irish mob and find enough evidence to put him and his murderous gang behind bars. But there's a problem, Frankie's younger brother Jackie (Gary Oldman) is an old close friend of Terry's, having grown up with him in the tough streets of Hell's Kitchen. Jackie is hot-tempered and is second-in-command with Frankie's mob, a fact that makes Terry's job much harder for him as time goes by. Terry's job becomes even harder when he begins seeing an old girlfriend (Robin Wright), who is the sister of Frankie and Jackie. Terry's love for her and his close bond with Jackie eventually leads to betrayal and murder, culminating in a bloody showdown between Terry and Frankie (and his mob) on a St. Patrick's Day.

Because this type of story has been overdone so much by Hollywood, the story is a little predictable. However, the top-notch cast puts a whole lot of energy and effort into the acting. Previously, I'd thought Ed Harris (with those fierce, piercing blue eyes) couldn't play a more unlikable character than the German sniper who kills a child in Enemy at the Gates, but as you'll see he's even more brutal in this well made thriller. Sean Penn and Robin Wright had great chemistry together and both delivered intense and convincing performances. Gary Oldman was very good at playing a psycho mobster, but maybe a little too extreme at times. Anyway, fans of mob movies will definitely enjoy this underated film. Highly recommended.

I think that this is one of the best movies ever made. The elegance of cinematography, a perfect performance of director Phil Joanu, a great casting (Sean Penn, Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, John Turturo), a complex story, and a very fine ethical dilemma. All these components, in a equilibrated mix, with a perfect result: a masterpiece.

I triend to record it in several times from cable TV, but it's time is over 2 hours, and I forget it every time, and never had a complete record. Often, the TV version it was translatedd to spanish, losing a part of actor's performance.

I don't understand why the DVD wasn't released before 2005. I expected it long time ago.

Phil Joanou had an incredible palette of talent to work with in creating this dark and troublesome work of art. Even the lesser parts are filled with personalities such as John Turturro, Robin Wright (then without the Penn), RD Call, John C. Reilly and Burgess Meredith. The score composed by Ennio Morricone has a haunting, eerie saunter, infected with an obvious full note that jerks you out of its hypnotic trance. Watching this film in 2005 takes one back to a number of other great and powerful films of the early 90's that used the noir anti-heroes as their central character. Comparing State of Grace to Abel Ferrara pieces such as Bad Lieutenant and King of New York would not be far-fetched.

Penn's performance as Terry is wrought with inner turmoil, culminating in his bedside confession to Wright's Kathleen. While explaining Hell's Kitchen and it's irk to Turturro he wanes "we're Irish, all we know how to do is drink," a telling testimony that typifies the culture soon to be taken over by the newly christened Clinton inner-city development. His inward reflection is mirrored by the exuberance of Jackie, played with perfection by Oldman. With his cavalier swagger he seems to lack the part of the genetic code that relays fear. Jackie takes risk to new levels while seriously jeopardizing older brother Frankie's (Harris) plans to form an alliance with elements of the Italian mob. Harris's taught composure throughout the film is a fine study in character definition; a true Jeckyl and Hyde persona, playing the suburban family man by day, and slitting the throats of childhood friends by night.

We've seen little in the form of feature offerings from Joanou, aside from U2's Rattle and Hum and Heaven's Prisoners. It is interesting to note his continuing contribution to U2's music video collection, as well as a number of TV commercials. His close association with the mega band lent a big break in acquiring music rights for his 2000 production Entropy.

This is a great film about rival gangs in NYC's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. Some of the later revelations are easy to pick up on early in the movie, but, all-in-all, it is very entertaining. Sean Penn is pretty convincing in his anguish over playing both sides. Of course, Gary Oldman is fabulous. When is that not the case? He is so charismatic that I sometimes cannot take my eyes off of him, even when he is not the central character in the scene. Of course, Ed Harris really makes you hate him in this movie, which, in my opinion, is a sign of a really great actor. This film is highly engrossing and entertainig. Give it a view. I watched it once and had to make it part of my collection.

Three visions ; three gazes , three generations , three points of view . The Yuppie Generation who live in The Kitchen's hell ; a police and a mobster .
The cop -Sean Penn is sent to New York and will meet again with his childhood friends but the life has invited them to complete the circle of the life .
A stunning film where the job , the feelings , the duty , the betray , the honour and the merciless violence intersect searing the screen. Full blooded film but filmed with superb good taste .
Arresting angle shots where you remember some bits of The Citizen Kane , superb illumination , and solid script make of this one of the three best mob films in 1990 - with Goodfellas and Crossing Miller .
The cast is fine but Gary Oldman shines with the light of a Supernova in this case . His role is the most complex to follow due the multiple spirit states demanded .
Phil Joanou is a gifted director who should be kept in mind for next releases .

From the opening scenes where a hood describes how to punish a disreputal dog you get the feeling that State of Grace is not going to have a happy ending. What it does have is an array of outstanding performances, an intricate feel for place and a dark brooding atmosphere that engulfs all and sets the tone for the blood thirsty tradgey. The basic plot (which reveals itself after the throwing opening) has Sean Penn inflitrating a gang of Irish/Americans who are on the verge of setting up an alliance with the Mafia. Penn, a childhood friend of the ruling Flannary brothers (Gary Oldman and Ed Harris) and ex lover of their sister (Robin Wright) returns to Hells Kitchen, Manhatten. Ten years away and now an undercover cop, he rejoins his old friends participates in the typical wild and reckless lifestyle of ambitious gangsters and resumes his love affair with Wright. Duty,friendship,love and honour are all challenged as Penn gets sucked into a violent vortex. The "State of Grace" that he looks for ultimately comes in bullets. What makes State of grace stand out from most gangster movies is the ferousity of the performances. Gary Oldamn as the younger Flannery brother, Jackey poetrays a character that is unforgetable.How Oldman did not even get nominated for an Oscar is beyond me. Jackey Flannery with his worn out black leather jacket, greasy unwashed hair is a volcano of negative energy.He smokes non stop,embraces violence like some berserk warrior and swears moans and loves as if everything is his last breath. Oldamns success is however that when he is murdered by his equally vicious more ambitious and calculating brother, we feel for him. For all his violence Flannery loves his friend and like a dog to his master clings to what he knows. the crux of the movie is that all he knows is changing, his sister has moved away, Frankie is collaborating with the "Guineas" who he believes killed his friend Stevie and Yuppies have taken over his neighbourhood "not even leaving ten blocks for the Irish" A violent world gone alien with Oldman even stating at one stage that he feels like he is on Mars. Oldman here with a flawless Irish/New york accent is captivating with his death representing the end of the gang, the resolution of Penns anger and the end of a way of life for that part of the world-money over loyality. Harris and Penn backed up by an excellient cast add to Oldmans sterling work. The film is loosely based on the activites of the Westies(a real life Irish/American street gang) who clashed with the mob. The set piece in the movie are brillienly staged notibly the Hands in the fridge,the sprint through a burning building, the the near annilation of a Mafia boss to the slow motion shoot out at the climax useing the St Patricks Day parade as a backdrop. This is film amking at its best, great performances, with the past and present used to establish tone. the dialog is rapid fire and course and Ennio Morricones haunting score as the closing credits appear, adds to the shock and numbness that of what has just accoured. A truely affecting movie and one I cant recommend enought.

I watched this movie about ten times and think it's one of the most underrated movies around. Coming along with a great cast like Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Ed Harris and Robin Penn Wright, this movie caught me again and again from the first second to the last.
Set in Hell's Kitchen New York the movie let's you breathe in the Irish athmosphere and tells a bloodthirsty story of friendship & betrayel. Sean Penn plays Terry Noonan, an undercover policeman who was infiltrated in an Irish gang lead by the Flannery brothers ( fantastic play by Gary Oldman and Ed Harris ). The film reflects very good Noonan's split emotions beeing a cop investigating against his former friends and the growing love to the sister of the Flannery brothers ( above average play of Robin Penn Wright ).
The film combines a good story, great actors, silent and short eruptions of violence and maybe one of the most impressive shoot out final ever ! Fantastic camera work!
If you like films like "Good Fellas" and "Reservoir Dogs" you should not miss this one. If you hide yourself behind a pillow when violence comes into play, leave it.

This is one of my all time favorite mobster movies. You have a great cast of actors including Sean Penn, Ed Harris, John Turturro, John C. Reilly, Robin Wright and Gary Oldman. This is Gary Oldman's movie by a mile and if you appreciate the man and you haven't seen this film, you need to put this one on priority. Definitely an overlooked gem and well worth two hours of your life.

The DVD for the film is okay. The picture is crisp and the audio is a pretty decent 5.1 surround mix. The only special feature is the theatrical trailer which in my opinion is way too revealing. Other than that, I can't really complain about this disc being that it's being sold for so cheap. Definitely worth at least a look.

In the gangster genre, this flick more than holds its own. As far as Irish gangster movies go, this is the best one I've seen - not that there are a whole lot of Irish gangster flicks. Better than "Departed". See it!

I first seen this movie soon after it was released (VHS) and was very impressed considering most people hadn't heard of it. It was refreashing to see a director who finally wanted to make a movie about the Irish Mob, who afterall were the longest established organised crime group in NY. I strongly disagree with a reviewer from Medford, NY who described Oldman's character as somewhat over the top. In my opinion, this is Oldman's finest performance to date! Having read many books on the Westside Irish Mob (as they refered to themselves) including The Westies by T.J English, Oldman brought the real life character Mickey Featherstone to life on our screens in Oscar style fashion! Believe me , these characters are not your average Italian style gangster; slick-back hair, well dressed killers. Most of these men had no such delusions of grandeuer when it came to how they looked. Many were hard drinking heroin addicts who if hadn't been shot, would have killed themselves anyway! These story lines have a much harder edge than your average Italian/Jewish gangster film because of a notorious drug and drinking culture that the other two etnic crime groups considered to be sloppy and unprofessional. Other films such as Southie have tackled these issues also, portraying a family from the projects coming to terms with alcoholism, drug abuse and gun culture. Don't get me wrong, I love Goodfellas and The Godfather but you have to admit, you won't beat the Irish when it comes to telling a story with typically unique ingredients. Jonau, indeed, could have been far more brutal in his portrayal of these men. Storys of a victem's head being taken on a pub crawl of the westside are now legendary. Ed Harris and Sean Penn turn in fantastic performances also, but Gary Oldman steals the show. I couldn't believe it when I found out shortly after watching the movie that Oldman is infact English. His portrayal of what is generally accepted to be Mickey Featherstone, is awsome! Those of you used to your typical Italian gangster movie be prepared for a crash landing into the world of psycotic, alcoholic, drug addicted killers! No dyed hair and flashy suits here! Just cold blooded, knee jerk reaction murder!