Grace Is Gone (2007)

Very disappointed :(

Pretty Good

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

I am a huge John Cusack fan, so, good or bad, if he's in it, I'll watch it. This is a particularly moving and sad movie. I would have to say that I have never been more moved to sadness by a movie in my entire life. It could have been the timing. My wife and kids had been away for several days and I was missing them terribly. Hey, I'll pick up a Cusack movie to take my mind off of them. Oh boy, was this not the choice. I open-mouthed wept repeatedly during this film and I just don't do that. I was an emotional wreck after seeing this film. Some of it was circumstances, but it was also because it was done so well. John Cusack played this character masterfully. I've wondered if it would affect me the same way, if I watched it again, but I'm not sure I want to have to handle it, if it did. This may sound negative, but quite the contrary, a film that makes you feel so deeply for the characters is indeed a masterpiece. Well done.

***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!

First and foremost..the reason why I'm entitling this comment as You must watch it for yourself...is plain and simple.My mum saw this movie before I did..She didn't say it was a good movie or anything like that..she just told me the general background of the story..and honestly it did sound dull..But i did decide to pop the DVD in to watch it,without any prejudgment based on mum's comment..and boy was I shocked,and i just saw "the Boy in the striped pajamas" just a couple of days back which to me was an instant 10/10 from start to finish..anyway..back to grace is gone..I think the writer did an excellent job..I actually thought "Grace" was gone when the movie started itself,especially with the scene with John Cusack's character Stanley was in a support group meeting and his daughter viewing CNN (or some other news channel) broadcasting the events in Iraq; but boy,was I in for a surprise(shock),when the two officers came knocking on Stanley's door..John Cusack was brilliantly casted for this role..the only serious role I saw him was in "Con Air" and that was action based.but this time he's like in a full fledged dramatic role.and the supporting cast,especially his daughters.They were brilliantly casted as well.Marisa Tomei was not even captured by my viewing(The woman at the poolside)..But i guessed the scene was cut for general viewing.Nevertheless,Cusack and his supporting "daughters" as well as "brother" did an extraordinary job.No doubt about that.The scene locations were just perfectly handpicked and the music originally composed for the movie?Superb..Like other viewers I was also shocked to know the man behind it was Clint Eastwood..Such a talent super powerhouse.IS there anything that he CAN'T do?Seriously.Jamie Cullum was also the perfect man to provide the lead vocal accompaniment to "Grace is Gone".I just hope more people watch this gem of a motion picture.And I hope that when i go back to this page,it will be at least a 9/10 on average,to me this motion picture deserves a downright 10/10.Really can't find any flaws..Just divine perfection..If any of the cast or crew happen to stumble upon my review,you should feel very honored in being part of this success of a project.I'm certainly honored to have seen your work.10/10

James Strouse (director/writer), should have cut loose of his "baby" and given it to someone with experience shooting a movie. Obviously, everyone called in favors to get this movie finished. Why is Steve Martin listed as Executive Producer in the DVD and not on IMDb? Did someone rethink their association? I felt this movie was sad and it had nothing to do with the story line. Cusak, I am sorry. I love you, dude. Your acting is great. This movie was not. I always fall asleep on nights we rent movies. This movie kept me awake because I could not believe this was written, produced, released. Are you kidding me? Everyone, think about what films you are investing in. Does your gut tell you, "This is not helpful to the world at large"? Go with your gut. Write a movie about your gut and all of it's complexities. And when your gut is driving to a Florida theme park, try not to use a carmount in that scene.