Very disappointed :(

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Based on the Westies gang in West Manhattan. State of Grace is the fictionalized account of the so called Irish mob, the Westies. Great suspense!

State of Grace tells the story of an under cover cop (Penn) who returns to his home town after 10 years. He reunited with his best friend (Oldman) and former lover (Wright) as well as working for the crime boss (Harris). During his stay he starts to question himself and where his loyalty's actually lie.State of Grace doesn't quite deserve the rank of masterpiece like some other movies in the genre (such as The Godfather or Goodfellas) but its a damn good movie which benefits greatly from slick pacing, a compelling story, three dimensional main characters, and some really excellent acting. Special mention must go to Gary Oldman and Sean Penn.Sean Penn has proven time and time again to be one of the finest and most versatile actors in the world, and this performance is no exception. He plays his role with such subtlety and depth that you really feel like you get to know the character personally and care what happens to him. Its a remarkable performance.Opposite Penn is Oldman, who is also one of the finest actors in the world. Always the chameleon Oldman disappears completely into his role and what were left with is an eccentric, flawed (possibly psychopathic) but ultimately sympathetic character that, like Penn, we start to care for and understand on a deeper level. Definitely a recommendation from me. If your a fan of the gangster genre this is definitely not to be missed. If your not a fan of gangster flicks but are still a fan of drama's with compelling characters this is still not to be missed.

Few people know of this film, for me it introduces a young Gary Oldman, who stands out in this star laden movie. This came out the same time as other huge movies, so it is a virtual unknown. But I urge you to watch it, for not only Oldman, as an unleashed, crazy mobster, to whom life is always lived on a knife edge. But for Sean Penn, who delivers a double sided policeman, living on his nerves working undercover in extreme conditions. Then Ed Harris, a polished mobster, who I feel never gets justice for his abilities. This is genuinely a top mob film, gone largely unnoticed, which deserves better, (even just for the arson scene with Oldman and Penn), scary, yet electric!. A must see film!.

State of Grace pits an undercover cop against the Irish mob in Hell's Kitchen that is coincidently ran by his best friends. Starring Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Ed Harris and Robin Wright, this film is a masterpiece that was overshadowed at the time of its release to what would end up becoming the best mob film ever made, Goodfellas. State of Grace showcases powerful performances from Penn and Oldman along with Harris delivering one of the most interesting mob characters of all time with Frankie Flannery. Gary Oldman's performance as the volatile Jackie Flannery is some of the best work Oldman has done which makes it a bit frustrating considering this film could have scored him an Oscar nomination if it was released at a better time. Instead, Oldman would have to wait until some twenty years later to even get a nod. It is a true joy to watch him on the screen and he is one of the only actors who could have pulled that role off. No matter how violent Jackie is or how cold he is, you still root for him...even if he is playing with a dead man's severed hand. The screenplay is tightly wound, making it extremely difficult to walk away from it for even a second. Every scene builds with an incredible amount of tension and allows Penn to flourish as Terry Noonan, who is literally one step away from being figured out and his paranoia sometimes gets the best of him...and us for that matter. This is a film that NEEDS to be seen, it is an absolute blast of entertainment that has been swept under the rug for far too long and deserves an audience. Directed by Phil Joanau, it is a taut and suspenseful film that shoots out of the gate with fury and ends with somber, sobering note in a bar shootout during the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City. This is grade A entertainment for anyone craving a good mob movie or a good film in general. Overall, I highly recommend this film, it is brutal, powerful and thoroughly captivating.