State Of Grace (8.5/10)

[Kal]

I don't usually love a film on first watching but this has already found a way into my heart despite only having seen it recently. The story is about a drifter named Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) who returns to his hometown in the Irish community of Hell's Kitchen, New York. There he seeks employment from local gangster-head Frankie Flannery (Ed Harris) through his childhood best friend Jackie (Gary Oldman) who is Frankie's brother. During the time he is back he meets back up with former sweetheart and Jackie's sister Kathleen (Penn's real life wife, Robin Wright). It is not long before Terry's loyalties are tested when he realises Jackie's life is in jeporady from his own brother due to the conflicts existing between parts of the Irish community and the Italians that Frankie is trying to align himelf with.

Although a fairly typical gangster theme, this film is lifted so much higher by the brilliant acting, camerawork and tight direction. Most impressive of all is Gary Oldman as the aggresive, head-strong, but still uncomprimisingly loveable rogue Jackie who despite his hardass image, suffers from his love for his brother and gulability toward him. One of the fantastic hooks of the story is the relationships, Terry's uncomfortable position (you'll understand if you watch it) making his loyalties divided between doing what he's supposed to or protect his friend, the relationship between Jackie and Frankie as Jackie's love for his brother and the community leads him further onto a seemingly impossible bloody end. Another interesting thing is the fantastic contrasts of the Irish community; with their joviality, long greased hair, scruffed up clothes, unshaven appearance and great appreaciation for the wet stuff, to the Italian community; with their clean, pressed suits, fondness for slicked/smart hairstyles and disappreciation for "disrespect". Inbetween these two spectrums is the snake frankie who despite having grown up in the Irish community, is now trying to integrate himself into the Italian's family, shown effectively by his change of appearance and relocation out to the suburbs. his brother's life begins to mean less and less to him as he struggles to prevent gang warfare and when it all comes to a bloody head, it is left on Terry's shoulders to choose his path; DO THE RIGHT THING or REVENGE. His choice is then beautifully shot in slow motion and tomato-ketchup explosions in a fantastic gun battle that for once sees every bullet counting and it's effect being registered as Terry lies on the floor trying to get his shots off.

Brilliant film about loyalty and love, underlined with fantastic performances from all round, be it Ed playing it with deep underlying venom or Gary playing the gullible badass mislead by his loyalties (repeat "GARY IS GOD!"). Ahh fuck it, I'll give it 9 out of 10.

[Tuukka]

I liked it, even if didn't make a big impression on me. 7/10.

[Brock Landers]

Great Stuff Kal [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] I dig this flick too, although not quite as much as some other Penn flicks, although it's also got the great John C. Reilly, Ed Harris and of course, Gary Oldman...

[rupert_pupkin]

As I said in another post recently, I think this is a real hidden gem Kal. It was released at the same time as Goodfellas and was subsequently(and understandably) overlooked but this movie with a kickass cast has loads to offer. The cinematography lends it a rougher, slightly more realistic tone than Goodfellas and is a somehow more brutal affair.

8/10

[The Professional]

State of Grace was a cool movie. (7/10)