State of Grace
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Movie Reviews of State of Grace
Movie Review: A character acting free for all
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Movie Review: Excellent Gangster film
Summary: 5 Stars
Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) returns to Hell's Kitchen after a ten year absence. He immediately falls back in with his childhood friend Jackie ( Gary Oldman), whose brother Frankie ( Ed Harris)is now running a powerful Irish mob. Frankie's organization is looking to make a deal with the Italian Mafia, and Jackie wants Terry brought in to make things run smoother. Unfortunately, Terry is also an undercover cop, and his sole purpose for coming back is to infiltrate Frankie's organization. Things become even more complicated, when Terry manages to rekindle an old romance with Jackie's sister Kathleen (Robin Wright). Now Terry is torn between his job, and remaining loyal to his friends and the woman he loves.When people bring up the subject of mob films, State of Grace is never mentioned. The story behind the film is very captivating because it shows the fine line between standing by your friends, and doing what's right. The film does a very good job at masking Terry Noonan's intentions because you can never tell which side he is truly playing for. State of Grace is an original in the mob genre because it offers a look at the Irish mob, instead of the Italians. The Irish are natural born fighters and extremely violent. This is what made State of Grace such a powerful mob film. The cast is first rate in this film featuring Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Ed Harris, Robin Wright, John C. Reily, and John Turturo. Each actor involved was brilliant in their roles.
Overall, State of Grace is probably one of the best mob films I have ever seen, and one of the most underrated films ever made. The story was captivating from beginning to end, the entire cast did a first rate job, and you get to take a first hand look at the Irish mob.
A solid 5 stars...
Movie Review: ...a powerful gangster movie
Summary: 5 Stars
While I was reviewing State Of Grace, I was debating whether to give it 4 or 5 stars. Despite the movie's mild reception at the box office and the little credibility it gets today, I realized that it actually is a classic nontheless. First of all, the movie sparked excellent performances by the entire cast, including Sean Penn (Fast Times At Ridgemont High), Ed Harris (The Truman Show), Gary Oldman (JFK), Robin Wright (Forrest Gump), John C. Reilly (The Aviator), John Turturro (Do The Right Thing), R.D. Call (Young Guns II), and Burgess Meredith (Rocky). Secondly, the movie's storyline and script, although familiar, are epical in their own right.
State Of Grace is about an undercover cop named Terry Noonan, played by Penn, who is assigned by his superior officer Nick, played by Turturro, to infiltrate a New York City Irish gang led by the sadistically merciless Frankie Flannery, played by Harris, and his crazy hard-drinking brother Jackie, played remarkably by the scene-stealing Oldman. Both Flannerys used to be Terry's close friends before he escaped their life of crime to Boston to join law enforcement. Terry will have to crack down on his friends and in the process risk being uncovered, as well as losing the loyalty of Jackie, who he loves like a brother, and the love of the Flannery sister Kathleen, played by Penn's future wife Wright.
The movie was released in the fall of 1990 and was overshadowed by another gangster movie that earned Academy Awards; that movie, of course, was Martin Scorsese's brilliant Goodfellas. But State Of Grace, with or without awards, remains to be a powerful gangster movie that shines thanks to the sincerity of an all-star cast.
Recommended
A
Movie Review: How did this movie go so unnoticed?
Summary: 5 Stars
It's unfortunate that this movie received so little marketing and went largely unnoticed. First off, amazing cast. Sean Penn, Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, and John Turturro star in this movie. Sean Penn gives one his best performances as Terry Noonan, who goes undercover into New York's Irish mob. He was selected because his childhood friend, Jackie (Oldman), is one of the top Lieutenants, and Jack's older brother Frankie (Harris) is the boss. Noonan quickly becomes encompassed in a life he had forgotten, and falls back in love with Frankie & Jackie's younger sister Kathleen (Wright), who is trying to get away from the life her brothers have chosen. Turturro plays the cop/mentor for Terry who has to try and convince he's doing the right thing.
When Frankie has another childhood friend (John C Reilly) killed, Terry has to figure a way to take Frankie down, but is conflicted due to his love for Jackie and Kathleen. I won't spoil the rest, but that's a synopsis of what the movie is about. It's about love, hate, betrayal, and revenge.
Penn gives a remarkable performance as the conflicted cop (similar to Donnie Brasco), and Oldman plays a bad guy that everyone loves. Harris plays the role of a cold, ruthless mob boss with perfection. Wright & Turturro give above average performances as co-stars, and the remaining actors are well cast.
To sum it all up, one of the best Organized Crime movies of all time and starring 4 men who have been nominated for Academy Awards. Above average plot, great cinematography, brilliant acting, and a very original ending, make this movie a must for all mob movie fans, and recommendation to all others.
Movie Review: Too often overlooked
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this film a good six years ago and the gritty, ugly, and tortured atmosphere has never left my mind; Gary Oldman's perfomance as Jackie Noonan, Irish mob psychopath, transcends a lot of what he has done since.
Who can forget when he innocently pulls out a severed finger from his icebox, laughing like a child, and shows it to his shocked and horrified brother, Terry? (Sean Penn). Or the beautifully stereotypical ending set on St. Patrick's Day?
This story of a quickly fading Irish mob family is one of psychopathic codependence, betrayal, and redemption through vengeance. Ed Harris is absolutely despicable, the type of character you want to reach into the screen and strangle, as the treacherous and self-interested head of the family, Frankie Noonan. Jackie's murder at his hands (as an appeasement to the more powerful local mob) is like watching a demented but innocent toddler go to his death at the hands of his parent.
Momentarily Burgess Meredith, as a broke old Irish apartment holder named Finnn, sorta reprises his role as Mick in a way (no pun intended); he screams at Terry (Sean Penn) in much the same way way he went roids on Sylvester Stallone. Only Terry's not dumb.
Terry takes care of business in the end, ditching his role as undercover cop and using street justice to avenge Jackie's death. This is the worst St. Patrick's Day you've ever seen; not one person is without a firearm in hand, beer, and fashionably worn leather jacket. A great mood piece.