State of Grace

Synopsis

In the gritty streets of Hell's Kitchen, Terry Noonan, played by Sean Penn, is caught between his loyalty to childhood friends and his duties as an undercover cop. Reconnecting with his old Irish gang, led by his brother Frankie, Terry finds himself torn between his past and his present assignment. As tensions rise and old loyalties are put to the test, Terry must navigate a dangerous world of crime and betrayal to uncover the truth behind a series of violent events that threaten to shatter the peace in State of Grace.

Cast

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  Sean Penn

  Terry

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  Ed Harris

  Frankie

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  Gary Oldman

  Jackie

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  Robin Wright

  Kathleen

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  John Turturro

  Nick

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  Burgess Meredith

  Finn

Reviews

State of Grace received positive feedback from critics upon its release in 1990. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a solid rating of 85% with the consensus, 'State of Grace overcomes clichés with bone-crushing intensity, a patented Penn performance, and Terry Noonan's struggle to make sense of the violent world around him.' Metacritic scores the movie at 60/100, acknowledging the film's raw portrayal of the Irish mob in New York City. IMDb also rates State of Grace at 7.2/10, praising Sean Penn's compelling performance and the film's atmospheric depiction of loyalty and betrayal. The movie's authentic portrayal of the Irish-American community in Hell's Kitchen has been particularly lauded by critics.