State of Grace

The movie I chosed to view and write a report on was called "State Of Grace". This movie depicts and 
focuses on small time Irish hoods who are grouped into crews, semi-independent unit that is headed by a 
street boss.They share with their crew chief who shares with soldiers and caporgime who runs their affairs. 
This movie is about small time hoods who operate in New York city.  An area known as Hell's Kitchen.  
Sean Penn, who plays an undercover agent tries to infiltrate a crew of Irish American decent who operate 
organized crime on a lower level.            This movie depicts many organized crime characteristics, the first 
being Self Perpetuating Frankie Flannery  has just been named the new boss, due toanunfortunate 
event.Early in the movie a Division of Hierarchy is established with Frankie Flannery being the street boss, 
who works under the caporgime, Mr. Berelli. Frankie runs a crew of about ten Irish rough housers, 
including his brother named Jackie, and Sean Penn!
 played as Terry, the undercover police officer trying to infiltrate the crew.  

This crew was nonidelogical, there only goal and concern was economic growth, as we see compared 
withorganized crime today. One of the biggest characteristics of organized crime used in this film was a 
person exhibiting the willingness to use illegal violence and bribery.Early in this movie Sean shows that he 
is willing to participate and does so by commiting arson, roughing people up, extoring monely from small 
business owners.  One of the reasons that Terry is given a chance to work with the crew, the characteristics 
of organized crime, limited or exclusive membership, is that he grew up with these guys in the 
neighborhood, and he was Irish.

Looking at the organized characteristics of specialization of labor, the crew mainly worked as button men  
or enforcers.  They carried out intimidation tactics, along with violdence  they pursuaded citizens to see 
things their way.

While watching this movie the main focus was on rules and regulations. Example: Little Stevie was 
murdered for disrespecting another caporgime named Mr. Cabella. Toward the end of the movie Mr. 
Flannery has to kill his younger brother Jackie, for not obeying rules and killing without Mr. Berellis 
permission.The end of the movie shows a different kind of loyalty. Sean Penn upset by the murder of his 
friend and member, Jackie Flannery decides to kill the boss Frankie along with the crew, even though he is 
a cop and breaking all the rules. This movie showed a view of organized crime at street level.