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State of Grace (1990)

Director: Phil Joanou

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From Time Out Film Guide

While not in the same class as GoodFellas, this saga about Irish-American hoods in Hell's Kitchen during the 1970s is out of the same stable; and though sometimes monstrously violent, it's a hugely impressive piece of work for a young director previously known for his documentary U2 Rattle and Hum. The plot is familiar: youthful loyalty compromised, betrayal, kinship, ethnic rivalry, protection of territory, return to roots, revenge. More important is the visual impact of the film, which begins in a blur of motion and ends with a bloody St Patrick's Day shoot-out. But most impactful are the performances: the much underrated Penn as a prodigal returnee, Wright as the ghetto woman who moved up and away, Harris as the bossman, and - most astonishingly - Oldman showing the ferocity of a Joe Pesci, the aimlessness of a Mean Streets De Niro, and the sex-appeal of a pre-fight Mickey Rourke.

Author: SGr 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Phil Joanou

Producer: Ned Dowd, Randy Ostrow, Ron Rotholz

Cast: Sean Penn, Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, John Turturro, John C Reilly, RD Call, Joe Vitorelli, Burgess Meredith full cast

Genre(s): Gangsters

Duration: 134 mins


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