Grace Is Gone
Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: December 7, 2007 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
65
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews
Positive:
13
Mixed:
5
Negative:
0
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
83
The A.V. ClubTasha Robinson
Attempts to address grief frankly, gently, and without didacticism, and it largely succeeds. Read full review
80
The New York TimesStephen 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. Read full review
75
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Simplicity -- four-square, not sappy -- is rare in film. James C. Strouse had it in his script for Lonesome Jim. As writer and first-time director, he gives Grace Is Gonethe quiet power to sneak up and floor you. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
With a minimalist plot, Grace Is Gone turns its primary focus on John Cusack, giving the actor an opportunity to display both his talent and his range. Read full review
75
PremiereGlenn Kenny
A picture about tragedy in one American family's life, and it's a convincing and humane one. Read full review
75
USA TodayClaudia Puig
As subtle and shattering as its title. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
It’s a close call, but Grace is Gone is worth seeing for the way John Cusack works with Shelan O’Keefe and Gracie Bednarczyk, two of the least affected and most affecting young actors to hit the screen this year. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Not a great movie, simply functional, but Cusack gives a great performance. The film somehow doesn't live up to his work. Read full review
70
VarietyTodd 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. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKevin Crust
An emotionally rich and satisfying drama featuring a terrifically understated performance from John Cusack. Read full review
70
Film ThreatJeremy Mathews
A film that depends entirely on whether you feel empathy for its characters. Read full review
67
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
The most noteworthy thing about the Iraq war home-front drama, Grace Is Gone, is that Clint Eastwood composed its musical score and title song, which have both been garnering all sorts of accolades, including dual Golden Globe nominations. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Bednarczyk's natural instincts put most programmed Hollywood moppets to shame, and the quietly affecting O'Keefe shows genuine talent. Read full review
50
Village VoiceScott Foundas
The music--a gently jazzy piano-and-strings theme--is just fine, and a good deal less cloying than what was there before. One can only regret that Eastwood didn't offer to reshoot the whole movie while he was at it. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyLisa 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. Read full review
50
New York PostKyle Smith
A barbell of a movie that carries some weight at either end. What's in between is purely utilitarian, though. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
A disappointing and manipulative look at one family's loss in the Iraq war. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
His (John Cusack) quickness and intelligence make him a poor choice to play the flat-footed main character, a rigidly conservative family man who can't work up the nerve to tell his two daughters their soldier mother has been killed in action. Read full review
More From This Movie

65 Critic Reviews

7.7 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL