Joel Newman Gary Oldman's facial features don't look much like Ed Harris's; I think the casting director or whoever makes these decisions should try to find actors who have similar faces (if they're going to play siblings). And it's not original: an undercover cop. So what? Although it's been said that there's only a handful of stories and it's not the story itself but the way it's told. The slow mo shootout at the end is questionable. I mean, it's a hard core slow mo shoot out (a la John Woo/Sam Peckinpah) but why did it have to be in a bar? Why not a public place with bystanders getting caught in the cross fire? I suppose the writer Dennis McIntyre (died during the making or shortly after/R.I.P) or whoever made the decision thought it was clever to be 'circular' i.e. have an ending that relates to the beginning. And it was kind of clever and subtle. I'm very critical. Don't get me wrong, State of Grace is a decent film. I've watched it countless times over the years; I like it's themes i.e. facing your fears and the love of money as the root of evil; brother turning on brother, juxtaposed against the catholic underpinnings. And I like it's style. And I like Ennio Morricone's music; it sticks in my head. And it's well acted (possibly overacted). And the photography's good. And it's got a great line up of actors, and New York looks so good in this; captured in such a deliberate way; rarely is there sunlight; it's usually overcast/wet or at night. Phil Joanou's a thoughtful director; those tracking shots....beautiful. Come to think of it, one of the things I like about State of Grace is that it's deep, serious, somber and filled with great actors playing unpleasant, unhappy people whereas there are so many 'upbeat', superficial and shallow films and TV shows (especially TV shows). And you get to see Robin Wright semi nude. And you get to watch Gary Oldman go wild. And Ed Harris's an awesome actor. And R.D. Call (who plays Pat Nicholson) is such a good psychotic; that was good casting.

Dexterou Few people know of this film, for me it introduces a young Gary Oldman, who stands out in this star laden movie. This came out the same time as other huge movies, so it is a virtual unknown. But I urge you to watch it, for not only Oldman, as an unleashed, crazy mobster, to whom life is always lived on a knife edge. But for Sean Penn, who delivers a double sided policeman, living on his nerves working undercover in extreme conditions. Then Ed Harris, a polished mobster, who I feel never gets justice for his abilities. This is genuinely a top mob film, gone largely unnoticed, which deserves better, (even just for the arson scene with Oldman and Penn), scary, yet electric!. A must see film!.

jcbutthead86 State Of Grace is an excellent,powerful and underrated Gangster Film/Crime Drama that combines wonderful,atmospheric direction,a terrific cast,an amazing,gritty script and a outstanding film score. All of those elements make State Of Grace an incredible film that is Gangster/Mob movies at it's best.Set in the Hell's Kitchen,Manhattan section of New York City,State Of Grace tells the story of Terry Noonan(Sean Penn),a guy that returns to Hell's Kitchen after a ten year absence and gets back together with old friend Jackie Flannery(Gary Oldman)and soon gets into the Irish Mob ran by Jackie's brother Frankie Flannery(Ed Harris)while falling for Frankie and Jackie's little sister Kathleen(Robin Wright). Unknown to the Flannery's,Terry is secretly an undercover cop investigating Frankie and his crew and Terry has to deal with violence,loyalty and betrayal.Released in 1990,State Of Grace is a brilliant and powerful Gangster Film that received rave reviews from movie critics but suffered from bad timing having been released right around the same time as Martin Scorsese's excellent Gangster classic Gooodfellas which led to State Of Grace being a failure at the Box Office and being overlooked by audiences. But thanks to Home Video and Cable Television showings State Of Grace has found a second life and audience and is seen as the underrated movie that it is. Right from it's haunting and ominous opening State Of Grace is an intense and dark Crime Drama that gives viewers all of the great elements and trademarks that are often associated with the Gangster movie genre:gangsters,violence and betrayal with a tragic and downbeat style that punches viewers in the face with nonstop grit and brutality. There are themes of family,friendship and loyalty are repeated throughout in State Of Grace but like in other Gangster movies and State Of Grace family,friendship and loyalty can be distorted and thrown out the window and are replaced by violence,death and blood. One of the things that I have always loved about State Of Grace is the tone and style of the characters and the film which is rooted in the genre of Film Noir. The characters and tone of the movie is very grim and realistic mixed with a stylish looked that fits in the world that State Of Grace shows and in most of the scenes and the characters are surrounded by darkness with no happiness or optimistic outcome. The photography by Jordan Cronenworth is beautiful and haunting using colors blue,brown and black adding to the film's tone. SOG also gives us one of the greatest and most realistic films about the Irish Mob ever depicted on screen(the film was inspired by the real life Hell's Kitchen Gang The Westies)because where the Italian Mob is more flashy and stylish with expensive suits,the Irish Mob tend to be more working class and dirty with black leather jackets and less expensive suits while sometimes wearing jeans. The Irish gangsters in SOG don't follow or go by the same rules as their Italian counterparts and in their own way can be just as vicious as the Italian Mob. When you watch SOG you are absorbed into the world of the Irish Mafia and what it's like to be in it. Along with Martin Scorsese's The Departed and The Coen Brothers Miller's Crossing State Of Grace is one of my favorite films about Irish Gangsters. The main characters in State Of Grace is one of the things that drives the film and keeps you glued to the screen whether it's Terry,Frankie,Jackie or Kathleen because with all them there is an emotional conflict that hangs over each one of them dealing with love,tragedy and guilt as well and even though you might not always like them or the things they do but the characters have an interesting quality that makes you want to know more about them. The violence in SOG is shocking and bloody but is necessary because of the story and tragic tone of the movie. The screenplay by Dennis McIntyre is fantastic and memorable,with McIntyre giving the characters incredible dialog and scenes that are gritty that fits with the tough world the movie shows. The ending of State Of Grace is amazing,powerful and in my opinion one of the best endings I have seen in a Gangster film and so great you will never look at the St. Patrick's Day Parade the same way again. An unforgettable ending.The whole cast is terrific. Sean Penn is excellent as Terry Noonan,with Penn bringing emotional depth to the role. Ed Harris is magnificent and intense as Frankie Flannery,an Irish Mob leader and Jackie's older brother. Gary Oldman is brilliant,unforgettable and gives the film's best performance as Jackie Flannery,Terry's best friend and Frankie's hot headed Brother. Robin Wright is wonderful as Kathleen Flannery,Frankie and Jackie's young sister and Terry's love interest. John Turturro(Nick),John C. Reilly(Steve),Burgess Meredith(Finn),R.D Call(Pat Nicholson,Frankie's Lieutenant)and Joe Viterelli(Borelli)give good performances as well.The direction by Phil Joanou is brilliant and stylish,with Joanou constantly moving the camera and bringing a unique visual style to the film and using slow motion and beautiful lighting to great effect. Amazing direction,Joanou.The score by Ennio Morricone is outstanding,powerful,intense and matches the dark and somber tone of the film. A great score by Morricone.In final word,if you love Gangster Films,Mob Movies or Crime Dramas,I highly suggest you see State Of Grace,an excellent,underrated and powerful Gangster Film/Crime Drama that is the Gangster films and Crime Dramas at their best. Highly Recommended. 10/10.

kramachandran From the start the movie builds a thrilling storyline, the characters entering into relationships that are doomed to tragic ends, the protagonist torn between loyalties to two opposing interests and what have we: all the ingredients of a classic thriller. The actors, especially Oldman as Jackie, deserve special mention. The movie delivers and keeps you stuck to your seat. A trivia is that the movie's storyline is so similar to "Parinda" a Bollywood thriller but with a slightly different twist to the plot. It ought to be that this movie lifted the theme from the Bollywood one, as that ( Hindi) movie was released in 1989.