19 Ultimate Final Shoot-Outs Of Cinema History
11. State Of Grace (1990)
This highly-underrated 90s thriller starred the ridiculously talented gang of Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright and Ed Harris early in their careers. Penn plays an undercover cop who gets into a nasty bit of conflict with the other two men, who are notorious Irish mobsters (but also childhood friends).
After some twists and turns, it boils down to the third reel where Penn takes on Harris and his henchmen in a scuzzy bar during St. Patrick’s parade.
The grounded aesthetic of its story suddenly transforms into a glorious two gun's blazing slow-motion action spectacle. Full of stunning lighting, slick editing, and effective audio.
Famed music video director Phil Joanou made his debut here, and although his influences for the scene are blatant (Peckinpah, Woo, De Palma), he directs it with such confidence and nuanced polish that it results in a thrilling sequence that easily stands next to its source of inspiration. It's a ferocious, stimulating and beautifully executed finale in this criminally overlooked action/thriller.