Reviews

Grace Is Gone

No catharsis here, just soft piano keys

By NICK MCCARTHY | January 23, 2008

1.5 Stars

John Cusack

Stanley Phillips (a weary John Cusack) may have difficulty admitting that Grace — his wife, who died fighting in Iraq — is gone, but first-time writer/director James C. Strouse has no trouble saying goodbye to his respect for audiences. Stanley represses his grief, makes impulsive decisions, frequently acts lost, and cannot find a way to tell the tragic truth to his daughters, Heidi (Shélan O’Keefe) and Dawn (Gracie Bednarczyk) — who might as well be named Precocious and Petulant, since they’re just sketches of characters. A few failed subplots and a stock liberal character later, Grace devolves into a callous game of “Will they or won’t they find out?” It’s strange that a film whose young characters are told to question the media should rely on its score to dictate how you’ll feel. There’s no catharsis here, just soft piano keys. 85 Minutes | Kendall Square

Non-starter
Opening night at the 23rd Boston Film Festival
Company man
War, Inc. cuts its losses
Interview: John Cusack sounds off on War, Inc.
Say everything
More

Topics: Reviews , John Cusack , James C. Strouse , Movie Stars , More

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ARTICLES BY NICK MCCARTHY

NEVER FOREVER | May 21, 2008
Sulky and not believable

ROMAN DE GARE | May 16, 2008
Don't be fooled into thinking this film has substance

BLINDSIGHT | March 12, 2008
Courage and naïveté

GRACE IS GONE | January 23, 2008
No catharsis here, just soft piano keys

MILAREPA: MAGICIAN, MURDERER, SAINT | October 03, 2007
Plays like a Wikipedia page

See all articles by: NICK MCCARTHY

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