What I Watched -- Grace Is Gone

K had to watch this movie for a class she's taking on the Iraq War, and recommended it. The premise is fairly simple: John Cusack plays the father of two girls. His wife/their mother is killed in Iraq. What follows is his attempt to deal with his loss. John Cusack is, no doubt, wonderful in this role. His character's expression of grief is as heartbreaking and understandable as any I've seen.

For my money, though, the real winner is newcomer Shelan O'Keefe, who plays his 12-year-old daughter Heidi. She conveys both the innocence and curiosity of a child, as well as the skepticism and maturity of an oldest daughter who has taken on too much responsibility.

The story is slow-moving, but also eye-opening. It is the story of an Average Joe, just trying to make it through something terrible in his life. It's nothing extraordinary, until it is.