REVIEW -- Grace is Gone

“Grace is Gone” is a charming little film that deals with the loss of a loved one and the inability to cope with it. John Cusack plays Stanly Phillips, a father of two, whose solider-wife is killed in the Iraq war. Out of an inability to tell his daughters about their mother’s death, Stanly decides to take them on a road trip to Enchanted Island (a thinly veiled version of Disney world), during which he painfully prolongs breaking the bad news.

Not only does writer/director James Strouse’s story hit on an emotional and topically prevalent level, but also his control of the acting is astounding. John Cusack is not playing his typical “John Cusack” character, which is the one that we know and love from “High Fidelity”, and “Grosse Point Blank.” In this film, he easily slides into the modern archetype of middle-aged dad. It’s not hard to believe that he’s a father from Minnesota, sporting the oversized glasses and windbreaker. In short, Cusack isn’t afraid to look ugly, and the movie benefits from that.

Despite the fact that neither looks like they could be related, two other great performances come out of the daughters, played by Gracie Bednarcz and Shelan O’Keffe. Strouse is able to create chemistry between father and daughters that truly allows their relationships to play out realistically on film. The youthful energy of Bendnarcz plays well against Cusack, who remains in an almost constant state of thoughtful paralysis, as he is unable to reveal the news of the death.

Technically, “Grace is Gone” was shot very appropriately. The camera was mostly static and invisible in its technique, which I feel benefits the film because so much of it hinges on focusing on the characters that we don’t need some radical crane move to emphasize the scene. In this movie, the camera is a visual reflection of the emotions of the characters. Cusack’s character is in a transformation that has built out of stasis. By not telling his daughters about their mothers’ deaths, he has in fact become closer and more perceptive to them.

The only part of the film that works against it is the fact that it is has the “independent stench” on it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love movies that are, truly independent, but I feel that some have artificially put on this “independent” feel so that they have more clout with the artistic crowd. It’s not a tangible element within the film; it’s just an overall sense that the filmmaker is attempting to pander to the Wes Ander son/David O. Russell audience instead of just telling the story organically and appropriately for the subject matter (which I feel is the true mark of an independent film maker).

All in all, “Grace is Gone” is an enjoyable cinematic experience. It is apparent that writer/director Strouse, and actor/producer Cusack are not afraid to take the risk of delving into a serious and somewhat touchy subject that uses modern issues as it’s jumping off point. As long as filmmakers are willing to take those risks, they will always warrant appreciation.

By Evan Watkins
Program Director, Network