DVD REVIEW

Grace Is Gone

Weinstein Company || PG-13 || May 27, 2008

Synopsis

Stanley Phillips (John Cusack) is a sad, disconnected man unable to tell his daughters that their mother, a soldier, has died in Iraq.  Instead, he takes them on a road trip, where their innocent charm helps him rediscover a healing joy he thought he’d lost forever.


Critique

I’ve been a fan of John Cusack for some time now, and it’s odd to see him as a suburban, SUV-driving, too-big glasses wearing, wrong hair having schlub.  I mean, we’re talking Lloyd Dobler here, Martin Blank, for Christ sakes.  Grace is Gone casts him as one of life’s has-beens, a man whose best years, whatever they were, are long behind him.  Still, Cusack makes the film.  A story that could have so easily been maudlin and cliché is made so much stronger by his performance.

Heidi is the serious older sister, while Dawn is the stereotypical younger one, much more carefree and willing to go along with her father without questioning things too much.  There are some great moments between Cusack and the girls, such as the moment between him and Heidi where the two learn just how affected they have each been by Grace’s deployment.  Stanley, of course, knows something that Heidi does not, but the two connect in a way we might suspect is new for them.  Stanley’s grief is profound, and Cusack portrays it honestly.

Stanley watches his daughters grow up right before his eyes, and he is mystified by it.  He says it himself late in the film: “I don’t know how to talk to these girls.”  The three of them are feeling each other out, learning as they go.  The film is more about the father and his daughters discovering each other than anything else.  It is no spoiler to reveal that he eventually tells them about their mother, at the end of the film, after they have had their fun, but this is more of an afterthought.  We get the sense that the group, the three of them, is much stronger and more able to deal with the tragedy at the end of the film than they would have been at the beginning.

Grace is Gone is a film that, honestly, I wasn’t too excited to be watching.  It wasn’t that I had low expectations or anything, I just don’t generally get too psyched up about films about people dealing with the deaths of their loved ones.  This film deals with it honestly and without the patronizing tone that is so common.  We know Stanley is going to drop the bomb on his two daughters at some point, so there is some suspense created as to just when and how it will happen.  We come to know the girls along the way too, so we don’t want them to go through anything harsh on top of what they are already in store for.  Along the way we laugh and cry with this family, and the experience is all more enriching for its many layers.


Video

Grace is Gone is presented in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio.  The film’s warm color levels are expertly translated, and the overall picture is sharp.


Audio

This disc is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.  The presentation is clear and well balanced, with all levels coming through sharply.  This is a film made up of many quiet moments, and they are all presented well.


Special Features

A Conversation on Grace: the cast and crew talk about the film.

The Inspiration for Grace Is Gone: an episode of This Week At the Pentagon about an ex-Marine who lost his wife.

Profile of T.A.P.S.: a look at an assistance program for survivors.

Theatrical Trailer: the original.


Final Thoughts

Grace is Gone is a somber, affecting film about loss and grief.  It’s hard to recommend owning this, but the film is definitely worth a look.  The bonus material is interesting, and the overall presentation is sharp.

VERDICT: RECOMMENDED

 

Subscribe to DVD Reviews Feed

 

Review posted on Jul 1, 2008 | Share this article | Top of Page

Copyright © 1999-infinity MovieFreak.com