The Shipping News
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Movie Reviews of The Shipping News
Movie Review: Spacey Has My Respect Now
Summary: 5 Stars
I'd never seen Kevin Spacey before I rented this movie. Needless to say, I now find it a little confusing why he hasn't been embraced more. He's brilliant. Another review mentioned that Spacey was against type in this movie. I have no idea what his "type" is but, as incredulous as this may seem to the MTV generation, not being typecast is a GOOD thing. It lets the artist grow, and if this movie is indication, wow, I can't wait to see how Spacey challenges himself in other films.
I've seen Lasse Hallstrom's work before, and knew his work was exemplary. As to the story, I was one of the lucky ones who never read the book and so could not prejudge the film. My main attraction to the film was the great Dame Judi Dench. As a PBS fan, I know her work on the series, "As Time Goes By".
This film shows how desolate living in a land with no trees can be. Quoyle's miserable personal fit right in with the landscape. I was afraid to watch the film, though, and so my first viewing was with the audio commentary. I was shocked to learn the amount of CGI that was used in the film. The house on the rock is only one story high, the rest was computer-generated!
Because of the fair amount of emotion in this film, it's bound to be branded a "chick flick". Such a name should be a badge of honor rather than derision. Work like this is rare and I will support work of this nature with a purchase. I've learned that if I venture out and take the time to explore a movie by an unknown actor I come away with a new respect and understanding for a people I know nothing about. That alone is worth the purchase price.
Movie Review: Lasse Hallström Scores For Me Yet Again
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been watching this director's films since when he was a European film director, starting with his wonderful "My Life As A Dog." I was worried when he started making American films because I thought he'd turn into another action adventure director, which is what we tend to do with Europe's best directing talent. However, Hallström has continued to make serious, artistic films in the ensuing years and I, for one, am grateful. I've never seen a film of his that didn't totally engross me and this one is no exception. I tried reading the novel upon which this is based and I put it down time and time again. Finally, I gave up on it as too literary. So I was very happy that I could watch the movie straight through without any hangups from its source Pulitzer prize winning novel. Kevin Spacey is the main character and we follow his life from being a nerd in New York with a wife (Cate Blanchett) who is gorgeous but a real low life. When she dies in a car wreck, his aunt (Judi Densch) talks him into moving to Newfoundland with her and his daughter to reinvent his life. He does so as a newspaper reporter there. There is also a lot of magical realism and mysticism going on in this movie, which I found very absorbing, plus humor. Scott Glenn plays one of his best roles ever as the irascible newspaper owner, Jack, and he provides great comic relief for the film. Every actor in this film gives an A performance. It is a dream cast and I can't imagine casting it differently. If you are not already a fan of Hallström's work, you should be. I bought this movie the instant I saw his name on it.Movie Review: Great book, great movie
Summary: 5 Stars
For the record, I read the book first and loved it: Annie Proulx's prose is scrappy and idiosyncratic, and her characters come across as actual people rather than plot devices. But I loved the movie, too, as a separate entity. Julianne Moore is exceptionally good in this film, which is saying something. Judi Dench (who, pace a previous reviewer, does NOT appear in 50% of all films - would that she did! - not that long ago, she appeared onstage in both London and New York in Amy's View) is the perfect embodiment of Aunt Agnis. Many reviewers objected to the briefness of Cate Blanchett's appearance: to me it was luxury casting. (Thank you, Ms. Blanchett, for taking a small but pivotal role in a beautiful and well-directed film.) One reviewer complained about the inconsistent Newfoundland accents; well, many of the characters left Newfoundland early and spent most of their lives in places like upstate New York, so it's only natural that their accents were affected (perhaps this film is TOO subtle for those over-scrupulous viewers). What a great pleasure it was to see Scott Glenn, Pete Postlethwaite, and Canada's own under-rated Gordon Pinsent shine in challenging roles.Then there was Kevin Spacey, physically unlike Annie Proulx's hero. What a performance, though! I disliked Mr. Spacey's Oscar-winning turn in the over-rated American Beauty, but his work in this film was beautiful and sincere.
A lovely, deeply moving film version of a very memorable book.
(And, pace another reviewer, it's best to finish a book before you criticize it.)
Movie Review: Returning to your roots for healing
Summary: 5 Stars
"Sink or swim" was the motto of Quoyle's (Spacey) father. We learn that fast when the man tosses his young son into the sea for a 'swimming lesson.' His father's expectations of failure marked Quoyle's early life.
The opening of the film shows Quoyle's meeting the first woman he loved, Petal (Blanchett) and having a whirlwind relationship. Petal abandoned Quoyle with their daughter, Bunny, only to return to take the child away and sell her to black market adopters for $6,000.
Bunny was returned to Quoyle after the police discovered Petal and her current companion in a fatal car crash and found the adoption paperwork. Shortly after, Quoyle's parents commit joint suicide after Quoyle's father sends him a note expressing his disappointment with his life, Quoyle, etc.
Quoyle and Bunny are still reeling from this double blow when his only living kin, Angis (Dench) shows up. She's going back to their family's native homeland in Newfoundland and offers him a chance to come with them.
Initially, Quoyle doesn't fit in with the locals. He's afraid of the water. He's shy and awkward, but a local newspaperman gives him a shot as a reporter with the shipping news and car crash beat and Quoyle quickly finds his place.
"Shipping News" is an intricate story that's well-acted and directed. The scenery and the music alone are worth at least 3 stars. I wish I had read the book first, but I'm planning on going back to do so.
Rebecca Kyle, March 28, 2008
Movie Review: Beautiful and inspiring!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you loved the sweet poignancy of American Beauty, there will be room in your heart for this one too. The Shipping News is less cluttered than American Beauty and it stays with you like comfort food. This movie is about a broken man with nothing in his life - no joy, no love - who is overwhelmed by the first warm body to take notice of him. He "wakes up" for the first time with Petal and they have a daughter that his world turns around. Unfortunately, Petal's world turns around every other man and she leaves a long line of lovers in her wake. She does some despicable things before her sudden death and leaves Quoyle awake, but utterly bereft, with only his daughter to whom he cannot explain these terrible events. He moves with a long-lost aunt to Newfoundland to start life anew and there he begins to blossom into more person than he's ever been in his life. Even while discovering that life can hold hope and beauty, he is learning that his heritage has branded him a certain kind of person. The end of the movie sees Quoyle rise about his past and his heritage to take confident steps into a new life full of promise. This wonderful movie renews the hope that there is indeed something in life for everyone, that even the broken can become whole again. An inspiring journey of the heart filled with devastation, hope and healing. It's one of my favorite movies of all time!