John Cusack’s everyman face and attitude has defined my generation’s memories. So is there anybody out there a little concerned about our boy these days?
Cusack has not only turned pasty, chubby, and hunched over like an old man – and, of course, the guy ain’t young anymore – but he has also shown a preference for sappy, schlumpy roles in marginally tired and manipulative films. He’s starting to turn into the next Richard Dreyfuss … one day the guy was doing Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and then BLAM – he’s doing Mr. Holland’s Opus. Cusack had a similar (but financially less successful) streak of films, like Better Off Dead, The Grifters, Being John Malkovich, and Grosse Pointe Blank … but lately his tastes have swerved into Serendipity and Must Love Dogs territory.
Now comes Cusack’s blatant “gimme the fucking Oscar or I’ll blow your balls off” career move, with the Sundance favorite Grace Is Gone.
The film deals with a man whose wife dies in Iraq, leaving him stranded in life with his two young daughters. You guessed it – he doesn’t know anything about them, so every gently-scored frame of the film deals with his quest to bond with them through tragedy.
CUE TEARS!!!
While I have no problem with a film being manipulative, could it at least have an original premise? Pan’s Labyrinth easily brings me to tears, but its story and execution were wildly new and visionary. This, on the other hand, feels like something Oprah and Gayle would sit around and watch while Stedman sits in the other room and gnaws his own cock off.
Grab a Kleenex, ’cause here’s the trailer:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEIFN0i3EJo[/youtube]
For me, I’m going to have see this before I give much of an opinion. This looks a bit original, I really like Cusack, even though most of his latest roles have sucked. Call me a sucker, but something about this appeals to me.
Although I agree Sam, a movie like Pan’s Labrynth is extremely sad…and it will not leave you sad for the moment…it will pretty much make you depressed the rest of the day after watching it. Del Toro couldn’t have handled that movie any better.
I think it’s all about creating something that will stick in the movie patrons minds…and then at least slightly if not extremely suprising them. This Cusack movie may have a good theme going for it.
I agree KC, this movie looks like it could be good. It mat be a bit contrived and unimaginative, but the realism of the story will touch people.
Cusack is a good enough actor to make people feel sad and care for his character. That is ultimately the goal, if you can make your movie believable and give people something they can relate to, they will enjoy the movie.
@ KC – You actually think this looks original?? I could probably find a late seventies TV movie that resembles this movie exactly, except involving Vietnam instead of Iraq.
@ Eric – So then the entire point of this movie is to make people sad, and win Cusack an Oscar.
It looks original in the sense that I haven’t seen a movie along these lines in a while. I actually don’t recall one at all. Naturally, themes are going to be re-visted over the years. Go back to the 70′s if you want. For all of the REMAKES being done, a refurbished theme, if the movie is good(looks good so far) is not a bad idea at all.
Eric said the point of the movie was to “make it believable, and give people something to relate to.” He never said it was just about making people sad, but that Cusack will draw emotions. Maybe read more thoroughly next time.
I did read thoroughly … I was being sarcastic.
How long have you known me?????
Well, that makes sense