Grace Is Gone | 
| Director: James C. Strouse
Actors: John Cusack, Alessandro Nivola, Gracie Bednarczyk, Shelan O'keefe
Studio: Weinstein Company
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $2.89
You Save: $17.06 (86%)
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Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 11191
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 84 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 81172
UPC: 796019811729
EAN: 0796019811729
ASIN: B0013D8LBS
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: May 27, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Unlike previous Iraq War films, the poignant directorial debut from writer James C. Strouse (Lonesome Jim) uses the conflict as starting point rather than subject. Early in the proceedings, Stanley (John Cusack) finds out his wife has been killed in the line of duty. The bespectacled disciplinarian decides not to tell his daughters right away. In his younger days, Stanley tried to serve his country, but poor eyesight dashed that dream, and now he's a superstore manager. The sort of middle-American conservative rarely seen at the art house, Stanley believes in his president. That doesn't alleviate his pain. Putting on a brave face, he asks his oblivious girls for their greatest wish. Eight-year-old Dawn (Gracie Bednarczyk) exclaims, "Enchanted Gardens!" With that, they hop in their SUV and drive from Minnesota to the Florida theme park. Twelve-year-old Heidi (Shelan O'Keefe) knows something is wrong--her dad isn't the spontaneous type--but she doesn't know what it is. En route, they visit Stanley's brother, John (Alessandro Nivola), who offers some insight into their bottled-up father. By the end of the trip, Stanley figures out how to break the news, in the process becoming a real parent. After winning the Audience Award at Sundance, Clint Eastwood, Cusack's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil director, gave the soundtrack a jazz-oriented overhaul. In tone, it's almost too refined for the blue-collar world Strouse depicts, but never distracting. More importantly, Grace Is Gone features Cusack's finest performance to date. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Description
In one of his most acclaimed performances, John Cusack makes an astonishing transformation as Stanley Philips, a sad, disconnected man unable to tell his young daughters their mother, a soldier, has died in Iraq. Instead, he takes the girls on a road trip, where their innocent charm helps him rediscover a healing joy he thought he'd lost forever.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
Heartbreaking May 18, 2009
Alan Starr (Lawrence, MA)
Heartbreaking story starring John Cuasck (playing mostly against type). His wife ('Grace') has been killed serving in Iraq, but he's too overwhelmed himself to bring himself to tell his two young daughters about it. So instead he decides to take them on a road trip to Disneyland (or the generic movie-equivalent). Surprisingly non-political, other than the fact that it helps bring home the message that behind every fleeting headline of war casualties, there are hundreds of lives that are devastated and forever changed.
I always have a tough time finding movies to watch on planes, given the violence and/or sexual content of so many adult films. I thought this would be a safe one to watch (and it was). But I'm sure the woman sitting next to me was wondering why I was crying in my seat at the end of the film.
 Road trip of Discovery; Fine Cusack; 2 Excellent kid performances April 12, 2009
R. Gawlitta (Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Writer-Director James C Strouse has put together a seemingly simple film about grief, and how it affects individuals differently. I don't think I'll be giving away too much by saying that Grace is a soldier who is killed in action, and Stanley (Cusack) is the husband who doesn't know how to break the news to his 2 young daughters. He hasn't been the most attentive father, and, faced with raising them without a mother frightens him. He also has a gnawing guilt complex because he was kept out of the military because of his eyesight. He asks his girls what they want to do, and they settle on a road trip to Florida (from Minnesota) to a popular theme park. One reviewer thought this an irreponsible action, but his kids have loads of fun before he finally breaks the news. How much fun would they've had with this knowledge before-hand? The film is not preachy about war; rather, a close-up of an individual who must make decisions about his family. The performances are excellent all around. John Cusack is so in control, a new depth of insight, that belies his reputation as the wacky comedian he is capable of being. Soft, sweet and caring, he handles the role with conviction. Most astounding are 2 brilliant young actresses, Shelan O'Keefe and little Gracie Bednarczyk; true naturals and very in touch with their given material. I hate bad kid actors, but these two kept me convinced throughout. Along the way they briefly stop to see Stanley's brother, Uncle Jack, an irrepressible character played to perfection by Alessandro Nivola. Though dismal at the outset, once they get to the theme park the colors are suddenly quite vivid and true; the kids are happy now, and Stanley realizes it's time to tell them. I found no problem with the development of story or characters. I was quite moved. DVD Extras are fine, mostly from Survivor's Groups and personal accounts. Clint Eastwood wrote the score, which was quite unobtrusive and effective, though other reviewers didn't like it. Too bad. I did. Someday the Academy will recognize John Cusack; he's always been one of my faves. It's annoying to me that so many reviewers are quick to condemn when a character doesn't deal with grief the way they think. My favorite example is Naomi Watts' character in "21 Grams". I believed it completely. Let's not be too quick to criticize the frailty of the human condition.
Grace is Gone March 13, 2009
kea
This was a very dramatic and sad movie. I think it would be good for any family with individuals in the military who have lost loved ones, who have loved ones who are injured or have died. This movie might be able to show what mistakes not to make with children when a parent is killed overseas. I can't relate, because I am one of the lucky ones who does not have any relatives or friends in the service. I recommend this movie as one of Cusack's best.
 Grace is Gone DVD Review March 2, 2009
R. Starr
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I ordered this DVD expecting it to be the same release that can be bought in retail stores. I was surprised to see it was the exclusive release issued to Blockbuster Video which did not contain as many bonus features. I do not remember seeing the Blockbuster release mentioned in the description. I would not have bought it if it was as I wanted the additional bonus feature. DVD condition was great and shipping was quick and fast.
Bitter Sweet yet Difficult to Muster January 30, 2009
Kevin Hunter (Los Angeles, CA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Another film circling around the Iraq War, except this one doesn't actually take place in the White House or in Iraq, but rather a families home while their loved one is at War. John Cusack plays the father of two young daughters whose Mother is fighting at War only to be killed. This is how the film starts and the whole piece is the Father trying to find a way to tell the girls, but instead takes off across country with them as he attempts to runaway instead of facing the reality. The eldest daughter constantly suspects something is up, but never questions him which is rather odd. You wonder when the Father plans on finely telling the girls and become rather frustrated as the story drudges on and he begins to bond with his daughters. It deals well with despair and loss, however an hour and a half of this is quite much for the average moving going audience to endure. This kind of story is not one that transfers well to film as entertainment. Many may get through it, but wonder what is the point of telling it. Still well done for this kind of subject matter and rather tasteful. Fine performances as well which does it's best to drive the picture forward. Worth seeing at least once.
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