Gracie (2007)

Director:

Davis Guggenheim

Writers (WGA):

Lisa Marie Petersen (screenplay) and
Karen Janszen (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

1 June 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Inspired by one family's real story

Plot:

A teenager faces an uphill battle when she fights to give women the opportunity to play competitive soccer.

Plot Keywords:

Soccer | New Jersey | Soccer Football | Brother Sister Relationship | Athlete

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jesse Lee Soffer	...	Johnny Bowen
Christopher Shand	...	Kyle Rhodes
Carly Schroeder	...	Grace Bowen
Karl Girolamo	...	Curt
Vasilios Mantagas	...	Craig
Donny Gray	...	Donny
Emma Bell	...	Kate Dorset
Dermot Mulroney	...	Bryan Bowen
Hunter Schroeder	...	Mike Bowen
Trevor Heins	...	Daniel Bowen
Josh Caras	...	Peter Wicker (as Joshua Caras)
Elisabeth Shue	...	Lindsay Bowen
Madison Arnold	...	Granddad
John Doman	...	Coach Colasanti
Andrew Shue	...	Coach Owen Clark

Also Known As:

Finding Gracie (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | South Korea:12 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Alpine, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Elevation Filmworks

Trivia:

Is inspired by events in the life of Elisabeth Shue while growing up (in the same town where the movie was filmed), who played soccer with the boys for as long as she could before turning her focus to gymnastics.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Johnny was taking the penalty shot the goalie was lined up in front of the end line. In a soccer game, when a penalty shot is taken the goalie must be standing on the goal line.

Movie Connections:

Features "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962)

Soundtrack:

Funk #49

This little gem is too good for the IMDb; it's an easy 9, fellas

Carly Schroeder has made, with this little film, perhaps the most pure-hearted big screen debut I've ever seen. The only other movie I can think of to rival this is "Whale Rider" and Keisha Castle-Hughes performance. But I really think Carly has the edge here. It's as if she's plucked a dream out of the ether and made it palpable. It's what the great actresses do, and I'm betting this woman could easily outdo every major name out there, given the chance. She's instantly likable and she transmits emotions through her face, voice, and body like she was born to convince you of her champion heart.

This is not an easy role. It's quite physical and most women have a deep dislike for exercise and even competition. After all, women are like dune buggies; men are like Mack trucks. But the truth is soccer can be played and won with finesse and heart, though it takes a special sort. Someone who can bring a deft touch to her play just when she should be exhausted and beaten. And there's no question in my mind none of the current crop of starlets would have struggled to do half the job that Carly does here. There are very few camera tricks that only imply physicality in the direction, instead it's all there for real, in a way that completely blew me away. These people believed in this film and it's paid off big time.

No, Hollywood is not quite as astute or clever as it thinks it is, so Carly's future can't be assured. But if there were ever a promising beginning, this is it. This is one beautifully acted and directed movie that I'm very sorry I didn't see when it first came out. I've no idea why it's not rated higher here. With all the ugliness we have to contend with, you'd think these armchair critics would be forced to let a breath of fresh air in. I'm guessing they're too far gone. I, on the other hand, think Carly has created, out of an impossibly pure and quite visible heart, one of the most memorable and believable female heroines I have ever seen.