State of Grace – 1990
Posted by Scott on 21 Apr 2008 at 02:42 am | Tagged as: Overlooked Films
What do Sid Vicious, Lee Harvey Oswald, Ludwig van Beethoven and Dracula have in common? Two words: Gary Oldman. The great British thespian has portrayed each person at one time or another. I realize I’ve been trashing the Oscars here lately, but it seems appropriate to question their validity when an actor as gifted as Oldman has never received a nomination. His explosive performance in State of Grace went unnoticed because the movie somehow slipped through the cracks. Hopefully, this review will help right a wrong.
After a ten year absence, Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) returns to the tough streets of Hells Kitchen. Reunited with childhood best pal Jackie Flannery (Oldman), Terry resumes a lifestyle of drinking and carousing. A reputation for being a “shooter” lands Terry a spot in the Irish mafia, run by Jackie’s brother Frankie (Ed Harris). A major deal between Frankie and the Italian mob is contingent on Frankie keeping loose-cannon Jackie under control, but the grisly murder of a friend sets an unstable Jackie on a path to revenge.
Terry’s trip down memory lane includes rekindling a romance with first love Kathleen (Robin Wright), who happens to be Jackie and Frankie’s sister. Balancing his feelings for Kathleen and his loyalty to Jackie causes Terry inner turmoil. No amount of booze can drown his demons. Terry reveals a secret that will force him to betray the Flannerys. While dealing with his own duplicity, Terry uncovers another betrayal that threatens Jackie. Terry soon finds himself at odds with Frankie, leading to a bloody St. Patrick’s Day confrontation.
Once you’ve seen The Godfather all other mob movies pale in comparison. However, Coppola’s over-romanticized vision of the mafia is far from reality. The gritty, low-rent picture painted in State of Grace is much more accurate. There’s no ostentatious estates or tailor-made suits to be found. Cramped apartments and cheap leather jackets define Hells Kitchen. Phil Joanou proficiently directs a smart script by Dennis McIntyre. Penn, Harris and Wright are all excellent but Oldman makes the movie. His dead-on portrayal of hotheaded Jackie is among his best. State of Grace is a dynamic film that shouldn’t have been overlooked.
The trailer for State of Grace:
