Movie Review

Grace is Gone: A Review of a Preview

A Movie Review By Susan Frome

Williamstown, Massachusetts has much to offer in many fine ways including Summer Theatre, Williams College, the college’s Art Museum, The Clark Art Institute (a famous museum for lovely Impressionist paintings as well as new shows), and in October of each year The Williamstown Film Festival (WFF in its ninth season 2007). “The Festival showcases the best in independent film as well as honoring America’s film classics,” say the program notes for the movie, Grace is Gone, starring John Cusack (one of many films shown over two weekend periods). This was its New England premiere. The picture won two awards at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival: the Waldo Salt Award for outstanding achievement in writing and the Dramatic Audience Award. The film will be released in early December by The Weinstein Company for major distribution.

It is important to understand that an “independent” movie simply means that it has not been funded by the Hollywood Studio System. So if Mr. Cusack, a well-known “star,” decides to accept this role regardless of its “small, independent” beginnings, and it is picked up by The Weinstein Company for release, then it has a very good chance to become a well-endorsed movie by the general public. We’ll have to wait and see about that. But in the meantime, it was shown at WFF as its New England premiere before major release and this reviewer was there. I encourage everyone to see it because it is about the effect of the war in Iraq on a small middle-class family in the Midwest.

The story centers on Stanley Phillips (Mr. Cusack), who works at a home supply store, has two daughters, Heidi (Shelan O’Keefe) and Dawn (Gracie Bednarczyk), and a wife, Gracie, who is stationed in Iraq. Stanley had tried very hard to have a military career, but, because of his poor eyesight, was always turned down. So Grace went instead. Stanley’s energy is extended taking care of his children as well as thinking about his wife and encouraging the girls not to worry. Heidi is twelve and Dawn is eight and need a lot of love and help which is hard for Stanley to summon up all the time. As a result, they don’t talk to each other very much.

As expected, the doorbell rings one morning (the girls are off to school), and Stanley is faced with the tragic news – Grace is gone. The soldiers bringing the news offer to help, but Stanley wants to be alone; we view his pain but the writer/director, James Strouse, does not push us too far. In the next scene, Stanley is driving Heidi and Dawn home from school – he cannot bring himself to tell them – so he asks them where they would like to go which would make them the happiest. They decide on The Enchanted Garden Theme Park in Florida. He suddenly says Okay, let’s go. They argue – they have school, etc. – but he’s already on the highway to the happiest place they can think of.

The rest of the movie, practically, is about this journey. Heidi, twelve, starts to come out from her usually quiet, withdrawn place -- eventually to where she and her Dad come together, and also to Dawn’s place, a toy backyard house in a large super-store, fit for three.

Note: If you don’t want to know the ending of this movie, stop now and read the rest after you see the movie.

Stanley, of course, does eventually find the strength to tell the girls the sad news. This has been his goal and he achieves it. We can see clearly what this “war in Iraq” has done to these people. Mr. Strouse tries to be honest about it all but, as a director, at times went too far. The climatic shot of Stanley and the girls sitting together on the beach, hugging each other, with a brilliant, darkening sunset behind them is a bit too much like a Florida postcard.

But, fortunately, that is not the last shot of the film. We see the sisters at the funeral service, Heidi reading her essay about her mother’s life while Dawn and Dad look on. They are clearly together, and as such, are strong and courageous. Fade out.

One of the important things about this film is the Iraq War. It is not mentioned in detail very much; there is an argument between Stanley and his younger brother, a serious liberal. But it doesn’t really go anywhere. What happens is that the audience feels this issue in its own ways, so that it is a part of the movie. We may want to speak up for either side, but can’t. We see that this family is strong and able now, but should it have happened at all?

Another question this film brings up -- is there a pun in the word “Grace?” Practically, it refers to Stanley’s wife, but is there another reason for this name? Could it include a spiritual meaning? Is Grace gone forever, or does she return in some other way?

This is a new kind of movie for Mr. Cusack and he has met its tough requirements especially well. Physically he looks different. His walk has been slowed to a loping jaunt, his face is fuller and sags while his eyes are tiny and tear-stained and squinty through his big glasses. By the end of the film, when he does smile, he still seems different.
Shelan O’Keefe is remarkable as Heidi – bright, intelligent, trying to get her school reports in on time if possible, trying to find out what’s really going on. I’m sure with the right encouragement, this young actress will fully develop on the right track. She certainly has a very good start.

Mr. Strouse’s first screenplay, Lonesome Jim, was directed by Steve Buscemi and screened at WFF’s festival in 2005. Presently, he is enrolled in Columbia University’s MFA program for fiction-writing where he recently completed Nobel Country, a collection of stories. There is no doubt we will hear again from him soon.

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