http://chud.com/nextraimages/graceisgoneposter.jpgA couple of months ago, John Cusack was being touted as a Best Actor contender for his performance as a grieving father of two in James C. Strouse’s Grace is Gone; now, he’s considered an also-ran (as is the movie in general despite a brand new score from Mr. Oscar himself, Clint Eastwood). Motherfuckin’ vicissitudes…

So it’s back to paycheck gigs for Cusack while he waits for his surely finished War, Inc. to hit a film festival or set a firm release date. The one-for-them in question is The Factory, a Dark Castle production co-written and directed by Morgan O’Neill, who’s best known for winning the Australian version of Project Greenlight. Cusack will play a detective hunting down a serial killer on the streets of Buffalo, New York. Matters take a decidedly personal turn when Cusack’s teenage daughter goes missing; why he assumes this is the work of his homicidal quarry and not, say, a Hardcore situation "Turn it off!"), I’m not sure. Then again, I’m not the Project Greenlight champion of Australia, so my opinion counts for dick.

O’Neill previously directed Solo. Before you get excited, that’s not the Solo starring Mario Van Peebles as a positive black android.

And while we’re writing off Cusack’s Best Actor chances this week, I won’t be surprised at all if he’s the frontrunner by Christmas. This season has been impossible to call. Maybe that’s because most of us were calling it before the Academy had a chance to see half of the major contenders. Nah, that can’t be it.