Grace Is Gone

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Audience Member Sooner or later we have to say that someone is truly gone John Cusack plays Stanley Phillips, a father of two girls He gets the devastating news that his wife, Anne while serving in Iraq is killed To cope with the loss he decides to take a trip to Florida He's very reluctant to tell his kids that she's actually gone and can't stomach how to do it This is an outstanding turn from Cusack; he's dealing with a lot to distract himself from his grief, sparing the pain from his daughters, and wondering how long it'll be before he can break the news The music is so beautifully composed and the two young girls are outstanding Director James C. Strouse makes a simple, short film about loss, grief, keeping it together, and how much time is left before we ultimately break down Parents deal with death in their own way much like their kids yet it's only a question of how to process it A finely acted portrayal of grief and healing as well as depicting a side of the Iraq war on the home front that's rarely explored these days Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/08/23 Full Review Kyle M Praised as departure from the Iraq war's own selection in the war genre, pictures like this are engrossed in the realistic copes besides the inner actions, traumatized heroism and messages with occasional attendees. This seems like a broader collective scope focused on the corresponding war than others, but it contributes contextually in general, nonetheless. This drama pressures a father with his own personal war gripping whatever confidence he could barely muster to tell his daughters the tragic news he's been given about their fallen soldier of a mother. John Cusack performed his best with sympathetically resonating conviction amidst supportive patience, and skillfully worded via thematic preparation buildup that may seem coerced nondiegetically despite bringing up additional details. (B+) Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Sooner or later we have to say that someone is truly gone John Cusack plays Stanley Phillips, a father of two girls He gets the devastating news that his wife, Anne while serving in Iraq is killed To cope with the loss he decides to take a trip to Florida He's very reluctant to tell his kids that she's actually gone and can't stomach how to do it This is an outstanding turn from Cusack; he's dealing with a lot to distract himself from his grief, sparing the pain from his daughters, and wondering how long it'll be before he can break the news The music is so beautifully composed and the two young girls are outstanding Director James C. Strouse makes a simple, short film about loss, grief, keeping it together, and how much time is left before we ultimately break down Parents deal with death in their own way much like their kids yet it's only a question of how to process it A finely acted portrayal of grief and healing as well as depicting a side of the Iraq war on the home front that's rarely explored these days Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/07/22 Full Review Audience Member An utterly depressing film which mawkishly milks the death of a loved one for all its worth. For one and a half hours, all it's about is a man who can't bring himself to tell his children that their mother is dead. Yep, that's it. The budget for this one must have been about $100 (for the petrol?) because there's no relief from scenes of this anonymous little family driving around aimlessly whilst daddy tries to pluck up the courage to tell the kids what happened. The films' relentlessly heart rending music attempts, it seems, to ensure every emotion is drained from the viewer just to make its point. Reminds me of my candidate for worst film of all time. What Dreams May Come, starring Robim Williams. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Não é grandes coisas e nem vai mudar a vida de ninguém, mas Johnzinho tá muito muito bem. Muito bem mesmo. E a trilha é do Clint. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member A poignant and heartfelt drama that uses the backdrop of the Iraq war to tell an affecting story of love, loss and family, Grace is Gone is a highly recommendable film that was underseen upon release in 2007 and is worthy of your time to this day. Featuring one of John Cusack's most effective and nuanced performances, James C. Strouse's debut film is small in scale yet big on heart and harbors a beating heart that'll make viewer's laugh and shed a tear in equal measure. Strouse finds a great tone in the often tricky balance of humour and drama in this film and it's a shame in the meantime since Grace is Gone's muted reception in 2007 that his only developed the little seen The Winning Season and the nice if a little lacking Jemaine Clement star vehicle People Places Things, a film that played well in the festival season last year. Strouse shows a real feel for characters in Grace is Gone and Cusack's Stanley Phillips as well as his two daughters as played by then youngsters Shelan O'Keefe and Gracie Bednarczyk are a family unit we quickly develop feelings towards and their cross country road trip that is acting as an intermediary between Stanley letting his children know about their mother's passing as a servicewomen in Iraq is a lovingly structured one. Front and centre to this journey is Cusack, who playing more vulnerable and inwardly tormented than we've perhaps ever seen him before or since shines as Stanely. He not only looks the part of a man struggling to come to terms with not only losing his wife and best friend but a man that is trying his best to learn how to not only tell his daughters about this tragedy, but learning to in fact talk with them like the parent they will need. It's not a showy turn but it's a quietly devastating one and a reminder as to why at certain stages in his career Cusack has been one of the best performers in Hollywood. Surrounded by the impressive O'Keefe and Bednarczyk as Stanley's daughters, Grace is Gone's cast is a real winner. In many ways slight yet in equal ways important and touching, Grace is Gone is one of the better Iraq war themed films that has been produced and with a great cast, a finely crafted score that was constructed by Clint Eastwood and a story that will resonate with many who watch it, Grace is Gone is the little movie that could and therefore should be watched by all. 4 pre-work morning rev ups out of 5 www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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