Grace is Gone: A Film Worth Seeing

John Cusack plays mild-mannered Stanley Phillips in the heartbreaking film "Grace Is Gone." A manager of a home improvement store, he was discharged from the Army for poor eyesight. His wife, Grace, is still in the Army and currently deployed in Iraq. When news of her death arrives one morning, Stanley cannot bring himself to tell their two young daughters, so he impulsively takes them on a trip to an amusement park in order to soften the blow.

Stanley Phillips had been such a big supporter of the war in Iraq that he lied about his poor eyesight in order to enlist in the army, where he met and married his wife, Grace. His enlistment was cut short when his lie was discovered and he was discharged. He now manages a home improvement store and takes care of his two daughters, 12 year old Heidi and 8 year old Dawn, while Grace is deployed in Iraq. One morning, after sending his girls off to school, he receives news of his wife's death. Having never really developed a strong emotional attachment to his children, he finds he doesn't have it in him to tell them the sad news and impulsively agrees to take them on a trip to the destination of their choice. In doing this, Stanley hopes to lessen the blow of their mother's death.

Heidi, the older daughter can sense something is wrong during the trip but can't pinpoint the problem as her father falls more and more out of character. Dawn, on the other hand, just seems to enjoy being on an adventure. The film is full of touching and heartbreaking moments as a mournful father slowly develops a bond with his daughters, yet dreads having to tell them the truth. To punctuate his loss, Stanley calls his house just to listen to his wife's voice on the answering machine and ask her how he's supposed to Even after reaching their destination, Stanley still can't find words, although his children have both become suspicious that something isn't right. Finally, the trio finds themselves on a beach and Stanley must tell them about their mother. It is tender and touching and one of the hardest things to watch.

Although this could have become a political movie, director James Strouse smoothly side-steps this and concentrates on the characters and relationships. In the end, this is the story of a man who slowly comes to understand his children while they, in turn begin to really see their father for the first time. It's the details that really make this film stand out. The juxtaposition of a broken-hearted father watching his happy daughters play in the normal way all kids do brings poignancy to this film that very few actors could convey as well as Cusack does.

This isn't the snappy sort of role that John Cusack normally plays, yet his handling of the tender, unsure father is spectacular. Shelan O'Keefe and Gracie Bednarczyk as the daughters are spot on, displaying an unassuming talent that belies their young years and lack of experience. "Grace Is Gone" is a simple, touching story that addresses the difficult issue of a mother's death and the family that is left behind. It's powerful and understated drama that most audiences will respond to. This is simply a good movie done well, and I recommend it.