Rating: 
Summary: not the best of all time, but acting makes up for it
Review: British actor Gary Oldman gies the performance of his career in the violent, thrilling tale of a hood-turned-cop (Penn) sent on a police mission to infiltrate the brutal and unpredictable Irish-American criminal organization run by Frankie Flannery (Ed Harris), and his younger,wild alcoholic junkie brother Jackie Flannery (the drunken Oldman), in West NYC's Hell's Kitchen. Rent this movie, drink a Guiness and eat a hot potato toppled with butter, and say ''F!ck the Sicilians''!!
Rating: 
Summary: Blood, guts and betrayal in gritty neon Westside New York.
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Greatest Ganster Movies Ever
Review: Gary Oldman is absolutely brilliant in this movie. His best ever perfomance as far as I'm concerned. Sean Penn is also remarkable. The rest of the cast, including Ed Harris and Sean Wright-Penn are great too. I've seen this movie many times and if I ever see that it's on the TV, I always end up watching it again. I don't understand why this movie isn't talked about a lot more. For me, it's way up there with "Goodfellas".
Rating:
Summary: One of the most underrated films ever
Review: Gary Oldman should have won the academy award for his performance here. He is perhaps as intense as I have ever seen him. The rest of the cast is also amazing in this very violent and gritty crime drama. If you liked Heat or Meanstreets, you will greatly appreciate this film.
Rating: 
Summary: gary is unreal
Review: Gary Oldman turns in one of the greatest performances in any movie. His jackie flannery stole the show. Robin Wright was excellent and beautiful as ever
Rating:
Summary: Movie About Irish Hell's Kichen
Review: Good Irish Mob movie.I give it 5 stars.I own the movie
it's that good.A must see.And a good St. Patrick's Day
movie.And if you are Irish you will love it even more.
It made me prouded as a Irish and Italian American.
The Itaian's are good too.But the Irish put it down.Green Pride
Rating:
Summary: A State Of Grace:
Review: Hard-hitting,fast paced,brutal,drama. Great acting by all involved. One of my all-time favorite gangster flicks. Oldman and Penn are fantastic. If you haven't seen this one,make time to do so.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie
Review: I first saw this movie after reading a review in Time or Newsweek when it came out in 1990. It is a violent tale that has vivid characterizations. The acting is at a high level. Each of the leads are well defined. The brutality seems true and critical to the storyline. The music boths offsets and supports the action on the screen. Call it a guilty pleasure but I've watched over and over many times. It still holds my attention and to me that what counts.
Rating:
Summary: A Turning Point in Gangster Movies
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Oldman is incredible.
Review: I found this movie one late night while flipping through the channels. I sat for two hours with my jaw on the floor. This flick is a must see for any fan of Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, or Ed "Dent-head" Harris!
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