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Grace is Gone  |
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As of the week of Memorial Day 2008, there have been 4,083 confirmed United States military deaths due to the war in Iraq. For most Americans, the continually mounting death toll amounts to nothing more than a detached, gruesome body bag scoreboard for a “conflict” more than half a world away.
Each day in the local paper and on television, the number of casualties grows followed by the prerequisite picture of closed caskets and draped American flags shadowed by the images of tear streaked faces of relatives of the fallen. For most of us, those numbers are an impersonal reminder to the harsh world that surrounds us yet is buffered in our own sheltered existence.
For the families of the deceased, there is no harsher reality. To them, these “numbers” and totals represent real people. Not just numerals representing the lowest common denominator of American policy, these soldiers are and were fathers, mothers, sons and daughters whose deaths are devastating to all involved.
So is the story of “Grace is Gone” starring the heart wrenchingly un-John Cusack, John Cusack. Cusack plays Stanley Phillips a Para militaristic store manager who wears his patriotism on his sleeve. Without fail, he explains, and believingly so to his two daughters that their mom is not with them at the moment because she is fighting for “everyone’s freedom.”
Stanley’s world and entire belief system is shaken to its core upon the revelation that his wife, Grace, has been killed in service of her country in the Middle East.
In perfect cinematic dichotomy, Cusack’s Phillips world of reality and denial is ripped to the forefront as he answers the door to two uniformed military personnel. There can only be one reason for their presence and every emotion is purely portrayed by Cusack’s deadpan poignancy.
What ensues is Stanley’s literal and figurative “fall from Grace.” He must deal with just how he must break the news to his daughters about the loss of the family matriarch. In truly American cinematic fare, he embarks on a potentially soul cleansing cross country “road trip” looking for answers.
“Grace is Gone” hits home and earns 4 out of 5 medals of honor.
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