Grace is Gone Sells to Weinstein Co.

[Posted by Nicole Sperling] The Weinstein Co. secured worldwide distribution rights to writer-turned-director James Strouse’s Grace is Gone, in true Sundance style. Following the movie and a dinner celebrating the film, which stars John Cusack as a father whose wife dies fighting in the Iraq War, the Weinstein Co. bid alongside Fox Searchlight and Sony Pictures Classics, finally closing at 4:30 am.

The Weinstein Co. clinched the deal on the film in the end because of its passion for the project, said sources close to the film. In old Harvey Weinstein fashion, the indie mogul never left the negotiations which finally concluded at the Cinetic Media condo in Deer Valley. "The company got its groove back last night," said Weinstein. "I'm happy to be back in this game."

Weinstein Co. paid $4 million for the world, Weinstein confirmed. The mogul wept along with other audience members at its initial screening at the Racquet Club. "It's definitely an Oscar season awards festival October/November release," he said. "It's Cusack's turn."

Cinetic Media co-repped the film, which cost around $3 million, with William Morris. Cinetic reps the producers while William Morris is behind the writer/director, lead actor Cusack, and supporting actor Shelan O’Keefe. [Anne Thompson and Gregg Goldstein also contributed to this report]

Here's the AP feature on the film.

Comments

[Walt]

Well this all bodes well. Heres hoping that Cusack, oneof the best actors of his generation, will finally get his dues

[David]

Sundance would be considerably more interesting if it wasn't so hermetic and predictable. A film about "a father whose wife dies fighting in the Iraq War?" From Sundance? Let's see if we can guess how the film interprets her sacrifice. As a heroic end freely chosen in a good cause, or as a pointless expenditure of blood for oil? I'd say "three guesses" except I think one in plenty.