Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A haunting drama on friendship and betrayal, 31 Jul 2003
State of Grace is filmaking at its finest- a beautiful modern drama with superb performances.
The protagonist, Sean Penn as Terry Noonan, is looking to face his past in Hell's Kitchen and do his duty as an undercover police officer-only to find out that he will have to harm people he grew up with and love him.He soon meets and bonds with his best friend, Jackie Flannery (one of Gary Oldman's most beautiful performances-and his personal favourite), who is working for his brother Frank (Ed Harris),the boss of the Irish mafia, and his Jackie's sister Kathleen who was his first love. Soon, he will discover that it he cannot easily turn on his own people, especially not Jackie who, despite his drinking and his violent, borderline paranoid character, sees him as a friend and trusts him immediately.
Director Phil Joanou has created a beautiful film that relies on a good, heart-felt story, and excellent acting from all the protagonists. The absolute highlight of this movie is Gary Oldman, whose presence lights up every scene he is in. As Jackie Flannery he is constantly drunk and in need of a shower, yet incredibly human and looking for affection and the approval of his older brother.
I loved the film when I first saw it, and was just as impressed now that I got to see it again on DVD.It feels real and honest.The only drawback of this edition is its Spartan menu,featuring only a trailer but that may have to do with the film being made back in 1990... Appart from that it is an absolute must for movie lovers.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Overlooked classic of it's kind, 10 Mar 2004
First saw this film on long term absense from work years ago. I'd just about seen every film in my local video store and what attracted me was the cast and the fact it was a gangster film. Say no more. I was tempted and took a chance - what a choice!It'a fair to say that the themes of this film are set in stone yet what the last reviewer fails to say is how thrilling the plot is. I was hooked. If you can accept that films about street level hoods and mob based crime have long been the norm since the Godfather then you can focus on the plot details rather than pointing out the cliches. I will say no more about the plot than it follows Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) returning to his old neighboorhood wher he hooks up with his old pal Jackie Flannery (Gary Oldman) and becomes involved with Jackie's bro Frankie's (Ed Harris) mob who rule over Hell's Kitchen. It is a brutally violent film yet no matter how repulsive the actions of each character become (watch Gary Oldman wipe out a couple of drinking hoods with no remorse if you know what I mean) you find yourself rooting for them. The central trio of actors are as good as they've ever been and are supported by a collection of underratedactors - John C Reilly, John Turturro to name a few. Gary Oldman and Sean Penn are the two that bind the film together yet it is Ed Harris that holds the attention, he is repulsive yet vunerable in his scenes with his boss leading the viewer to empathise with his crucial decision. I have recommended this film to many friends who would never have seen it otherwise and they all agree that it kicks arse! If you are a fan of filma such as Mean Streets, Donnie Brasco, King Of New York and (of course) Goodfellas then give this one a try as I feel it is truly underrated and deserves to sit alongside those afore mentioned.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dark, violent - and moving, 9 May 2009
Sean Penn is Terry Noonan, a young Irish cop from a bad part of town. An undercover assignment has him infiltrate the Irish mob in Hell's Kitchen - his circle of childhood friends. Noonan soon finds himself torn apart between his duties to his job (and a rather vague perception of right and wrong) and his loyalty towards his old friends. He has already all but failed at his mission when an act of betrayal among the mobsters pushes him back onto course and towards a violent showdown.
So far, so average. Everything else is way above the average. The movie's brooding atmosphere is excellently crafted, holding up throughout the entire film. The central question of belonging and loyalty becomes more complex at every turn, leaving the viewer just as entangled in the web of contradicting thoughts and emotions as the main character. The performances by the stellar cast of Penn, Gary Oldman and Ed Harris are incredibly intense, among the best I have seen in any movie.
Violence is always present under the surface, just waiting to erupt, yet the film never (not even during the spectacular showdown) sinks to the level of an ordinary action flick, with violence as a means of entertainment.
This is one of my favorite films ever, and I am happy to report it has stood the test of time extremely well. It is just as grittily engaging today as it was in 1990. Most highly recommended.
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