With Jim Sabatini

State of Grace

Rated: R for language and violence
Reviewed by: Frank and Chris
Release date: September 14, 1990	Released by:

Terry Noonan (Sean Penn), who grew up in Hell's Kitchen, New York, returns after a few years' absence to become pat of an Irish gang made up of childhood friends. Frankie Flannery (Ed Harris) heads the gang, while his younger brother Jackie (Gary Oldman), and alcoholic psycho who kills without thought, is his henchman, Penn's acting is his best to date, and Oldman is believable scary and out of control, The story is gritty, violent and intense; it builds slowly to a final confrontation filmed in slow motion with the St. Patrick's Day Parade in the background. With the rash of mob movies being released this fall, this one stands out as a winner.