This movie was anything but understated, I found some of the nuances to be intriguing while others were over done. I always harp on lack of character development and this film is not spared the rod. I felt some of the actions of the characters in the film were unearned, we hadn't met that side of the character when these events came about. Other than that, I found it to be an awesome movie to talk about or watch at the beginning of a movie night with friends. On it's own this movie would be a 5 or six but the underlying themes are very well stated when seen from a Canadian's point of view but also as a neutral bystander to the real events in question during the movie. I watched this movie a while back and was surprised to see it's low rating. I know that it's a middle aged movie but I thought I would fill out a review to show some love. I watched this movie back when my town still had a movie rental place that didn't cost 20$ Per late day (seriously). To watch it again legally would cost 1 million dollars (the cost of twenty dollar a day late fees times every movie I ever rented times ADD)therefore I couldn't watch it again while being a peace loving, law abiding Canadian. After watching it for a second time recently I began to realize why the rating was so low. It's a very mixed movie and complicated movies are often badly received from the "I didn't understand the movie the very first time I thought about it" crowd. On top of that its a french movie, an anti American movie and a movie that addresses freely issues that many hold sacred and untouchable. I say all of that to say this: watch the movie, before a long shift at work or a road trip or some event where you will have the opportunity to chew on it and Watch it as a movie and not as a political statement. That's all I can say about it. Enjoy.
Reviews
2 Reviews
State of Grace
(1990)
State of grace, the morning after.
12 December 2013
State of grace, the morning after. This movie was sort of a surprise for me I looked at its cast and IMDb rating and wondered if I had missed a gem, I had. I went into this movie having read or heard very little of its plot, but I caught onto it right away and predicted the twists and turns well before they were laying their foundations. It's not a complicated movie and it certainly isn't a bad movie. That being said the actors were trying to capture the insanity and volatility of Irish gangsters of the era and I think that save for a few over acted scenes, (OK a lot of over acted scenes) they did that. Something we forget on our journeys thru these films of old (I was born in the years this film was being made) is something that my parents reminded me of: it's a very good movie for the era and for what it is. The characters are relatable and the cast is well picked. As far as directing/writing goes I think that there could have been slightly stronger character and plot development considering the length of the movie and especially between the characters that have a relationship previous to what we see. All in all there were very few disappointments It will always be hard for me to dislike a Gary Oldman movie. Gary Oldman as ever took a challenging role and worked with it. But it was an unnatural role for almost anyone to play so even the great Gary Oldman, falls off here and there. I found myself wondering when his scenes would end and this is something I usually reserve for Hollywood model/actors like Megan Fox. Sean Penn is an actor whose brilliance I usually have a hard time seeing until I think of his work as a whole in a film. This movie was an exception I enjoyed his work from beginning to end. Penn was one of the offending parties in the aforementioned "over acted" scenes but really that's a part of his acting style. And at the end of the movie, thinking it over I gained a little bit of respect for him as an actor. Ed Harris wasn't really playing a role that sits at the forefront of the film but he is the antagonist and I think for that he did great, maintaining a steady character thru the entire movie. Finally, as with any John Turturro movie he left me wanting more. I personally think that Turturro made very few bad movies. His character in this film embodies his acting very well as he is an actor that can be trusted with a simple role without over complicating it. no, I did not cover the entire cast in this review nor did i write the storyline out for all to read, it just is not complicated enough a film to do so. To explain any aspects would leave the reader watching thru major parts of the film already aware of what is happening. This is my first posted review. I hope I did OK! And thanks for taking the time to read.
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