MovieChat Forums > State of Grace (1990) Discussion > Comments from the stars?

Comments from the stars?


This is one of my favorite films, yet it's one of those under-the-radar, hidden gems, whose obscurity precludes much conversation.

Still, given the caliber of the actors involved and the quality of the project, it stymies me that I've never seen it crop up in any interviews or the like. Oldman has been on Charlie Rose numerous times, and he's never mentioned it, to my recollection. Penn's sat down with Rolling Stone quite frequently, but I'm not sure if he's ever commented.

The only bone I've been thrown is somebody on here claims that Oldman once remarked that Jackie Flannery was his favorite role...can anybody verify this? Does anybody have a link to any commentary from anybody involved?

Cheers.

"...if that was off, I'd be whoopin' your ass up and down this street." ~ an irate Tarantino

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[deleted]

SeanJoyce, I read this in a review from imdb:

"Author: studiojudio from Northeastern USA

Aside from being a great, dark film, with a substantial plot line and a GIANT cast (Oldman, Penn, and Harris), this is an Oldman performance not to be believed. Mr. Oldman himself has been quoted as saying that "State of Grace" is HIS favourite performance. And, as usual, he gives a performance to be equalled by none.

Sean Penn is marvelous, too, and Harris portrays evil incarnate.

This film should be re-evaluated, and Gary Oldman should have received the Oscar for it. His portrayal of Jackie Flannery, a wild, violent young gangster with an ethereal tender streak - is simply phenomenal."


And what I found is that 2 Directors chose Gary for a role in their movies, watching his performance as Jackie Flannery:

From EW:
"So what convinced Letter director Roland Joffe that Oldman would be right for the movie? (The Scarlet Letter) The actor credits the filmmaker's wife, Susie. ''Roland called the part uncastable,'' says Oldman, ''because the minister is tortured, but he had to have a sweetness.'' So she showed her husband 1990's State of Grace, in which Oldman plays a member of the Irish Mob. The deciding moment, he says, ''was a scene where I smiled.'' Talk about sinking your teeth into a role."

And from Gary Oldman in The Hollywood Interview
http://thehollywoodinterview.blogspot.com/2008/02/gary-oldman-hollywoo d-interview.html
(About Oliver Stone and Gary's role in JFK):
"Oliver saw me in State of Grace and that's what convinced him to cast me as Oswald. He said he saw an "intensity" and "haunted quality" in my character and wanted Oswald to have that same sort of withdrawn, haunted quality."



I personally LOVE this performance of Oldman.
And maybe this is HIS favourite performance, or not, but this character obviously gave him luck!






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I am no star or anything but I love this movie and I think that He summons some of the spirit or energy from this movie into the movie leon the professional. I have not seen that one in a while and I could be wrong but that 'everyone' line is so powerful and sort of reminds me of this movie. It would not surprise that this is his favorite because this movie is very incredible.

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