State of Grace

I`m always surprised when people not only say they`ve not seen STATE OF GRACE but have never even heard of it! The story is a simple one with complex undertones. Sean Penn is a Boston cop who returns to Hell`s Kitchen in New York as an undercover agent. While there he is reaquainted with his boyhood friends and this is where the conflict begins. One said boyhood friend is portrayed by Gary Oldman. As Jackie Flannery he gives one of the finest performances of his carreer which when you are talking about Oldman is saying something. Robin Wright provides the female lead and this is the project on which her and Penn met and I think you know the ``rest`` of that story! Ed Harris provides our ``bad guy`` here...hell, they are all bad guys, in a superbly reserved presentation. John C Reilly, John Tuturro and R.D. Call provide great support but it is the late Burgess Meredith who steals the show. It`s only one scene but it`s amazing how much power his little cameo brings to the table. I`m told this is not an easy film to find but it is certainly one well worth the hunt.