Review: State of Grace

In a story inspired by the real-life Westies (a term that means something altogether different in Australia, by the way) Sean Penn stars as Terry Noonan, returning to his old NY neighbourhood of Hell’s Kitchen after ten years of unexplained absence (The area is now known as Clinton, for starters). He hooks up with old acquaintances like Jackie Flannery (Gary Oldman), his volatile, impulsive childhood best buddy, and Jackie’s older brother Frankie (Ed Harris), an Irish mobster whom Jackie works for. He also runs into his old flame, Kathleen (Robin Wright), who happens to be sister to both Frankie and Jackie, and whom he starts up with again. Apparently Frankie is trying to smooth things over with imposing Mafioso Borelli (Joe Viterelli), but the volatile screw-up Jackie mucks that up after a drunken, violent outburst in a bar. All of this leads to Frankie (who likes to call the shots from arms length) for once having to actually get his hands dirty, and in a way most unexpected and heart-tugging for him. Meanwhile, just where in the hell was Terry for those ten years? Character actor R.D. Call plays Frankie’s right-hand man, John C. Reilly plays a local lunkhead who gets into trouble with the wrong people one too many times. Screen veteran (and veteran scene-stealer) Burgess Meredith turns up as an elderly tenant who owes money to Frankie, and who once knew Terry’s dad. John Turturro plays an acquaintance of Terry’s from the most recent period in his life.

This 1990 Phil Joanou (“U2: Rattle and Hum”, “Final Analysis”) gangster movie is regarded by many as one of the greatest films few have ever seen. Whilst I think that’s a little hyperbolic, I do think it’s pretty terrific and deserving of praise and a wider audience. A release date too close to Scorsese’s masterpiece “Goodfellas” really seems to have relegated this one to near-obscurity, despite starring some very big names. It’s not the equal of “Goodfellas”, as it lacks visual flair and has a too-contrived plot (Penn is accepted back into the ‘hood way too quickly and unquestioningly for my liking), but give this one a go if you’re into gangster movies or happen to be a fan of any of the actors. It’s not just an Irish-American version of “Goodfellas”, though it does indeed offer a vivid view of Irish-American mobsters.

Penn is top-notch in a performance full of inner turmoil and conflicting loyalties. It’s due to his performance that one doesn’t get too down on the implausibilities in the script pertaining to his character. Harris is solid, too, as a controlled but violent and ruthless criminal who by the end is asked to make some very tough decisions. I’ve never been a Gary Oldman fan, especially his nuttier acting turns (He ruined “The Professional” and was similarly self-indulgent in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”), but for once he manages to be nutty and brilliant at the same time, instead of just self-indulgently weird. It helps that he’s essentially got the Joe Pesci role, though, it must be said. It’s a fantastically vivid supporting turn that is further helped by the actors, characters, and environment around him, who help keep this character somewhat grounded. He’s a volatile nutbar, but he’s a more complex, believable, volatile nutbar than Oldman usually plays because he’s in a believable world of criminals and violence to begin with. Wright, Reilly, Call, and a surprisingly (and thankfully) restrained Turturro, are all rock-solid in support, and veteran Mafioso specialist Viterelli steals his one or two scenes. Meredith also walks away with his one-scene cameo, but it does seem to stand out like a sore thumb. I kept expecting him to turn up again, but he didn’t. Maybe it’s just that I’m a fan of the late, beloved actor.

This isn’t on the level of “Goodfellas”, and it loses a bit of steam towards the end, but it’s still a vivid, well-acted and fascinating journey into gangster life. Even with “Goodfellas” overshadowing it, I’m still surprised this fine, mostly realistic-seeming film has been somewhat buried in the years since. Time for a re-appraisal, in my view. Nice (and appropriate) use of U2 on the soundtrack at one point, by the way. The screenplay is by playwrights Dennis McIntyre and David Rabe (who co-wrote screenplays for “The Firm”, and “Casualties of War”, the latter co-starring Penn and Reilly). I may be imagining it, but look at the scenes between Penn and future wife Wright, and tell me you’re not seeing something already between them- and I don’t think it’s acting!

Rating: B+