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Grace Is Gone Review

Release Date: Dec 07, 2007
Rated: thematic material, brief strong language and teen smoking
Runtime: 1 hr. 25 min.
Genres: Art House/Foreign, Drama
Director:James C. Strouse
Cast:John Cusack, Alessandro Nivola. Full cast + crew

Movies.com Critics

1.5

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Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

4.0

65

out of 100

Metascore^®
Generally favorable reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
50

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
Grace Is Gone grabs on to a name, a war, and the metaphor-come-to-life of a theme park with rides going nowhere. And we, the people, are spun around and shaken for tears.

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50

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt
A disappointing and manipulative look at one family's loss in the Iraq war.

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70

out of 100

Variety Todd McCarthy
Although clearly coming from an antiwar perspective, the story's emotional effectiveness and family grounding give the film a real shot at connecting with general audiences across the political spectrum.

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70

out of 100

Los Angeles Times Kevin Crust
An emotionally rich and satisfying drama featuring a terrifically understated performance from John Cusack.

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75

out of 100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
Not a great movie, simply functional, but Cusack gives a great performance. The film somehow doesn't live up to his work.

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75

out of 100

USA Today Claudia Puig
As subtle and shattering as its title.

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80

out of 100

The New York Times Stephen Holden
Mr. Cusack demonstrates once again that he is Hollywood's second-most-reliable nice guy, after Tom Hanks. Devoid of vanity, with no hidden agendas, he never strains to be likable. Good will, integrity and a native common sense ooze out of him.

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See all Grace Is Gone reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 14+

Sad drama about loss may be too heavy for kids.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that kids and teens may have a hard time processing some of this somber indie drama's mature themes, notably war and the death of a parent. The characters swear on occasion, a 12-year-old girl smokes and acts out in other ways (though mostly fairly tamely), and a grown-up suffers a near-emotional breakdown. Nevertheless, the movie has a soft center, empathizing with the experiences of a father and his two daughters as they deal with the terror that comes with knowing their loved one is on the front lines.

Families can talk about how the media typically depicts war and its consequences. How is this film different from other movies about war? What are the experiences of families who go through this type of tragedy? Why do you think Stanley can't tell his daughters the truth right away? Also, what is the effect of never having Grace show up on camera? Is the film more or less effective for her absence?

The good stuff

Messages: The characters are decent and well-intentioned, though the father seems distant at first and doesn't tell his daughters the truth about their mother as soon as he should. Nevertheless, he's a devoted family man at heart. Tween daughter Heidi acts out a couple of times, but it seems to be mostly in response to knowing something's wrong with her dad/their family.

What to watch for

Violence: News footage of the war in Iraq on TV screens; a man shoves his adult brother and forces him against a wall; a pervading sense of gloom hangs over the film.
Sex: Not an issue
Language: Occasional uses of "s--t," "goddamn," "crap," and, very sparingly, "f--k."
Consumerism: Signage and mentions of HomeStore, the fictional "big box" home improvement store where Stan works, and Enchanted Gardens, the similarly made-up amusement park that Stan and his kids are planning to visit.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some talk of drinking, but little is seen onscreen. A tween girl tries a cigarette; her father then smokes with her, intending to turn her off the habit.

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 3.013

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excellent!!! by pinnaclepix
Loved it!

by Malarkey

Read all Grace Is Gone reviews at Fandango