I attended a screening of "Getting Grace" last night in Santa Monica. When I hear "faith based" movie, I get leery. They are usually under funded, poorly made, poorly acted and get too "preachy." This isn't that AT ALL. Getting Grace wasn't shoved in my face, it was grounded in a reality that both spoke to me and touched my heart. Having watched a loved one deal with the most horrible aspects of cancer (on more than one occasion) among the OTHER tragedies that happen within the film I've had first hand experience with, Getting Grace deals with them on a level that hasn't been seen often in either faith based or general movies. It gets real. Sure, there's humor... good humor. Nothing too blue or adult but, fun and at times mature humor that seems to have been sucked out of most movies lately. We get drama... of course we do. Our main character has cancer, the kind you don't get better from. There's other tragic issues dealt with in the movie but, they aren't overbearing. They are told with a "this is what life is" tone that, again, isn't heavy handed. Bad things happen and everyone deals with tragedy differently. The blend of comedy and drama (and dramedy... a fantastic blend of drama and comedy at the same time which is hard to pull off but, filmmaker Danny Roebuck, does it with a charm) is spot on... Sometimes we have to laugh at the worst situations because, it's better than crying. Newcomer Madelyn Dundon's performance is on another level. Her subtle yet realistic portrayal of Grace is so natural and so brilliant, I'm surprised she isn't accepting awards yet. Daniel Roebuck gives his undertaker character, that Grace befriends, a tragically, quiet Buster Keaton like edge. He is a sad man of very few words but, his eyes express the sorrow he has held inside for a long time.Roebuck doesn't need to say much but says a thousand words with his expressions. Dana Ashbrook is terrific as the author who can bend spoons and helps some of the non-believers understand the faith that Grace seeks herself. Duane Whitaker's minister character adds some great comic moments but, also raises questions about the true theme of the movie... finding faith and searching your soul for answers. Harri James gives an incredible performance as the mother of a very sick little girl. Her anger, frustration and overbearing protection, as she watches her little girl suffer is wonderfully detailed and layered. All in all, the movie was cast VERY well and the acting and attention to detail is top notch. Being an actor for many years, Daniel Roebuck knows how to direct performances. It doesn't hurt that he backed himself with a technical team that made the film visually beautiful and interesting to watch. Roebuck has a bright future as a director.
In the crazy world we live in now, filled with tragedy and uncertainty (to say the least), Getting Grace is a delightfully entertaining, funny, tragic, heartbreaking, heartwarming piece of filmmaking art... the type of "slice of life" film that everyone should get a HUGE piece of and savor its flavors and nuances... and save yourself room for seconds. No explosions, alien invasions or CGI dinosaurs needed, It's nice to see a film that doesn't rely on anything but good story telling and great filmmaking and acting. We need more of these types of movies. SEE. THIS. FILM.
