Inclubabu
Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.
ReaderKenka
Let's be realistic.
Jenna Walter
The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
Steve Pulaski
There have been an unsurprising influx in war films since America initiated the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively, but there has also been an overabundance of films that show dad on the frontlines of battle rather than mom on the frontlines. Convention and long-standing images and repeating commercials have directed our minds to think of hundreds of young men when the word "soldiers" comes up in conversation, but women are rapidly making up more and more of our military as days go by. At this point, we've seen many films that show what happens when dad is absent and fighting for his country, but what about what happens when a father is left to take care of his two young daughters while his wife is overseas in Iraq, to find out she has been killed when he gets the tragic and heartwrenching knock at his door? Grace is Gone attempts to depict such an incident.The film stars John Cusack in a strong performance as Stanley Phillips, who works at a hardware store called Home Care and mans the fort at home with his daughters - twelve-year-old Heidi (Shélan O'Keefe) and eight-year-old Dawn (Gracie Bednarczyk). While Stanley - a Veteran himself - admires his wife's audacity and commitment to the military, he wishes she was at home helping the girls through some of the most significant moments in their life (especially Heidi, who often appears to be twelve-going-on-eighteen). When the girls are at school, Stanley is informed that his wife was killed in battle. Rather than sob or break down in theatrics, he calmly sits down and stews in absolute silence, not calling into work, not calling the school his girls attend to inform them, or anything. He stews for several hours, quietly flinching when an unanswered phone call clicks over to the receiver and he hears his wife's canned message.When the girls are home, Stanley has some surprising news for them, although it's not the news we expect him to reveal. He takes the two girls on a car trip to "anywhere they want." The girls are puzzled by their once strict, schedule-reliant father cutting loose, especially in the middle of a school/workweek. Dawn says she wants to go to "Enchanted Gardens," to which Stanley accepts without hesitation. The three are now bound for Enchanted Gardens, despite foggy air between them that only Stanley can see. Long takes on Stanley's face show a deeply worried soul who will sooner-or-later have to break the news to his daughters that their mother has died, but right now, he realizes that if he himself can not comprehend what has just happen, how will he bring his daughters to do the same? Along the way, Stanley makes a pit stop at his mother's house, where his brother John (Alessandro Nivola) resides, unemployed and cynical. Stanley and John never quite got a long, with John often opposing many things and bearing a very pessimistic attitude towards life. A touching scene, however, comes when John takes Stanley's daughters out for lunch and discusses their father's service and tries to put in easily-understandable terms why the two don't necessarily get along so well. Before the girls know it, it's time to hit the road and they don't even get to see their grandmother come home from work. Stanley has had enough of a nap and it's time to get back on the road.Grace is Gone isn't the emotionally manipulative family drama about death and loss that we can easily assume it is. It's a deep and intimate film about grief and denial that we all know has to veer into acceptance sooner or later. Cusack embodies this idea perfectly in the complex role of Stanley Phillips, only assisted by the work of O'Keefe and Bednarczyk, whose character must remain loyal to their clearly troubled and often incoherent father as he grapples with something he fears they simply won't be able to understand.An attribute that makes Grace is Gone lack the sentimentality it could've easily exploited is Clint Eastwood's humble, low-key score, which comes in at the right moments and lingers in a way that isn't intrusive or an overstayed welcome. Throw in a pleasantly manageable eighty-five minute runtime, softly-lit cinematography by Jean-Louis Bompoint, and writing and directing by James C. Strouse that doesn't cater to a mainstream formula, and you have a film that should have a lot more recognition than it does in the face of emotionally manipulative dramas and subpar films concerning war.Starring: John Cusack, Shélan O'Keefe, Gracie Bednarczyk, and Alessandro Nivola. Directed by: James C. Strouse.
sol
***SPOILERS*** Deeply moving film about coping with a tragic death and how it effects the person who's trying to keep it from his two young daughters knowing quite well he can't keep it from them forever. It's when local Home Depot manager Stan Phillips, John Cusack,got the news that his wife Grace, Dana Lynne Gihooley, was killed in action in Iraq that his entire world turned upside down. With him now having to deal with Grace never coming home he has to find a way to tell his and Garce's two young daughters Heidi & Dawn, Shelan O'Keefe & Gracie Bednarezyk, the terrible news about their mom's passing. Not quite knowing what to do Stan decides to take the two girls on a trip from their home in suburban Minnesota to Florida to where they alway wanted to visit the state's "Enchanted Gardens".On his trip south Stan stops off at his grandma's place only to find his homeless and unemployed good for nothing brother John, Alessandro Nivola, sleeping there. It's during a heated conversation with John,with both Heidi & Dawn not present, Stan tells him that his wife Grace was killed in Iraq. John a lifelong pacifist who, like what turned out to be the majority of Americans. was totally against the war changed his opinion about it. In him knowing that Stan can't accept that his wife Grace died for a not a noble and righteous cause. Not as Stan believes in order for Grace to protect her country and family from a foreign invader.It's later that Heidi starts to put the pieces together in realizing her dad's very strange behavior. Why is he acting so out of character and what's with this calling her mom and Stan's wife Grace at home in Minnesota and leaving long and & rambling massages while she's supposed to be some 8,000 miles away in far off Iarq! Has her dad suddenly gone off his rocker or is he hiding something from both her and her kid sister Dawn? ****SPOILERS*** In the end after finally getting to visit Florida's "Enchanted Gardens" Stan decides that he has to tell his girls the truth that he's been keeping from them all this time. And he does it in a very touching way siting by the shore with no audio but music showing how both Heidi, who may have already known, and Dawn reacting to he news. It was evadable for Stan to come clean and tell his daughters the truth in what happened to their mom but as it turned out they took it a lot better then he did. But they did get a chance to visit the "Enchanted Gardens" that in some way took most of the sting out of it!
Nikol Cherniak
The most moving story I have ever came across. Very sad, and loving, a story that shows the love that a father and his daughters can have even in the worst of times. A negative aspect is that the story is very long and over exaggerated. The movie tells how the father takes his daughters to Disney world and they go to a hotel and the next day they spend the whole day going on rollercoasters. These parts are basically just fluff in the movie. I can watch the last 10 minutes of the movie and understand the whole plot. However, it shows us life and love in all ways, a father to his daughter, a husband to a wife, daughters to their mother, etc. This movie is perfect to watch with a family, it'll bring a few tears out of everyone and bring everyone even closer together than before.
Raj Doctor
The local English newspaper in Amsterdam, gave a short brief and good review of this movie. On IMDb, it was a mixed bag of reviews – some of them really critical about the movie. My initial euphoria to go and see the movie faded fast, but still I went to see the movie – because I had promised to accompany my colleague – Claudia.The movie is about Stanley Phillips (John Cusack) and his two daughters Heidi (Shelan Okeefe) and Dawn (Gracie Bednarczyk). Philips wife Grace is in military and serving in Iraq. One day the news comes in of her death. Philip is shocked, but he does not have courage to tell the news to his daughter. In turn, he decides to take them to take his daughters on a road trip to a Children Theme Park. Along the road he agrees to be cheerful and happy and give his daughters whatever they wish for. At the very end, when he tells them – it gets very emotional.It is typical small budget, cute and simple story. John Cusack who is also the producer of the movie – acts his role of Stanley with perfection to the core. Each and every twitch of his eye and expression are measurable with the pain and agony that is there in his heart. He enacts this role brilliantly. Hats off to him. The two daughters – though not much historics to display – are good as supporting cast.There are many emotional and sad moments in the film, and I would advice to carry your tissues and handkerchiefs along with you – if you are those senti types like me.This is the first movie of Director James C. Strouse, and he has done an above average job in direction. I would not say brilliant. If it was not with the great acting of John Cusack, this movie would have fallen flat as any other ordinary movie.Surprisingly Clint Eastwood has given musical score for this movie. One more feather on his cap. Wow – it was not strikingly noticeable, but was good.I understand the few critical comments on some reviewers after seeing the film – like US military not allowing men with eye problems, and the cinematography. Both critical comments though correct – they are too minor to take away the goodness and touchiness of the film. Yes the camera work was a big let down for me too. The cinematography was out of place and majorly looked like I am seeing a 1970s movie – the type of film (or negative used).But overall, a very pleasant and heart warming experience to see this movie.(Stars 6.5 out of 10)
