my third viewing of this masterpiece some time ago reveal to me just how brilliant it really be . expertly direct and well craft and and feature an intriguing story and state of grace be unfortunately overlook upon it debut in 1990 in favor of more well know gangster film and such a goodfellas and the bookend to coppola epic godfather trilogy . i be not sure how a film of this caliber can go so grossly overlook and even nowadays ( though and as be the case with many film and it appreciation have be snowball the last few year . ) all i can say be that it have quickly propel itself to the elite of my favorite film and and i consider myself lucky to have it sit in my dvd shelf . state of grace be one of the early film that depict the irish mob and a topic that and so far and have an impeccable track record at be transition to the screen represent miller crossing and a masterpiece by the coen brother that arrive the same year a this film and be also criminally overlook and 2003 road to perdition and sam mendes beautiful father or son epic and and and most recently and martin scorsese triumphant return to the genre with his slick adaptation of hong kong blockbuster and the depart . state of grace take place in the gritty environment of hell kitchen and new york city . terry noonan ( sean penn ) be an undercover cop from boston and on a mission to infiltrate one of the top crime organization head by frankie flannery ( ed harris ) and his brother and jackie ( gary oldman ) and noonan boyhood pal . while in town and terry fall into his old way with jackie and and request that frankie put him on the payroll a a worker . he also rekindle his relationship with the brother sister and kate ( robin wright . ) a terry become more and more entrenched in the underground affair of frankie and jackie and his moral become devastatingly conflicted . he find that his allegiance to his pal be at end with his job assignment . his devotion to either be constantly test . thing take a turn and however and when frankie psychotic method and attempt to align with a powerful italian syndicate reveal him to be bad than terry imagine and and he take matter into his own hand . specific mention of the top three actor deserve marquee attention . it be rare that you will find a cast headline by a talented a trio a that of state of grace . sean penn and ed harris and and gary oldman be all their most fierce and and rarely have either of them be well . each bring something different that be crucial to the movie success and and the entire package would have be bring down severely without either of them . penn torture cop and who find himself revert more and more to the old lifestyle that he try to get away from and be the crux of the movie . the anguish and guilt that he keep bottle up inside him really convey how difficult a situation he be in . harris add another level to the cold and calculate mob bos . his sadistic nature be match beautifully with a fear he protrude subtly . and gary oldman and who never require any commendation and be and a always and spectacular . he steal every frame of the movie he in a the impulsive and hot head brother or best friend who value little in life and except family and the task at hand . a harris brings cold to another level and oldman supply an entirely new definition of crazy . all of the work do by each of these talent show why they be consider some of the best in the business . the support cast deserves recognition . the three lead be back by an impressive cast of character actor and who lend fervently to the style and attitude of the film . superb character actor john turturro and john c. reilly make whatever impression the lead three allow them and and robin wright be a smolder pillar of sensuality a penn love interest ( soon to be his wife in real life ) and and she flesh out a bit of back story . burgess meredith and r. d. call be also superb . ennio morricone be at hand and and while his score here be not his best ( certainly not a bad thing ) and it really add to the feel of the movie while first play over the opening credit over a st. patrick day parade in slow motion and and reoccurring throughout the film and it be a nostalgic and haunting theme that take u to time past and remind u of the context of the scenario . the cinematography do by jordan cronenworth be strangely beautiful and make the well play grit of the urban area look appeal . a shade of blue dominate the look of the film and give it a glossy luster . the finale find penn march to a bar in slow motion to the beat of and through a st. patrick day parade and follow by a shootout inter splice with footage of the parade and and it be one the coolest and most adrenaline pumping scene ever put to celluloid . it too bad this gem isn not recognize more and because it a real treat . i have find a new perennial favorite and one that be perfect for every third thursday in march . the italian mafia film be great and but it great to have a few standing point on the board for u irish . erin go bragh .