Director: Phil Joanou
Writer: Dennis McIntyre
Stars: Sean Penn, Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright

This review is part of the feature:

The 33 Gangster Films You Can’t Refuse

State of Grace is for the Irish mob what GoodFellas is for the Italian mafia. It’s that good. Terry Noonan (a moving Penn) returns to his old neighborhood Hell’s Kitchen in New York after a twelve year absence.

He hooks up with his old best friend Jackie (a sensational Oldman) whose brother Frank (a mesmerizing Harris) now leads the extremely violent Irish gang. He also rekindles the romance with his old flame Kathleen (an impressive Wright), Jackie and Frank’s younger sister.

Noonan, we soon learn, is really an undercover cop, sent in to get the dirt on Frank. It isn’t before long that he is torn between his duty and his loyalty towards his friends. Meanwhile, Frank is trying to make a pact with the Italian Cosa Nostra, which is disrupted by his loose cannon brother.

Terrific writing, acting and cinematography make this little gem the best gangster film that few people have seen. The final scene – a Wild Bunch style shootout in a bar – is one of the greatest endings in gangster cinema history.

If you haven’t seen it, I suggest you put it on your ‘to watch list’ today. Goes well together with a pitcher of Guinness. And did I mention that Ennio Morricone composed the music?