|
| • Advanced Search • Help |
The Shipping News | Year: 2002 Classification: Drama Directed: - Lasse Hallström Actors/Actresses: - Cate Blanchett - Judi Dench - Julianne Moore - Scott Glenn - Kevin Spacey A Movie That Touches On Everything Human Is it possible to touch on darn near every human experience in a 111 minute film? One wouldn't think so, but Lasse Halsstrom (director) does so with stunning clarity. The film is about Quoyle (Kevin Spacey), a man broken apart by an unsatisfying marriage to a [witch] (played excellently by Cate Blanchett). Before the marriage ends, they have a child, Bunny -- who is the highlight of her father's life -- and the mother is killed in a car accident. Coincidentally, Quoyle's "mother" and father were killed very recently, too. Enter Agnes Quoyle (Judi Dench), Quoyle's "aunt" who's heard about the death of her "nephews" parents and is there when news of the death of Bunny's mother arrives. It is clear from the outset that Agnes doesn't want to hang around, but feels compelled to when she sees her "nephew" fall apart in front of his daughter. She recommends that he and his child come with her to Newfoundland, to discover a new life for themselves.... The trouble is, is that their old life also awaits them in Newfoundland. Agnes is not -- exactly -- as she appears to be, nor is Quoyle's family. Quoyle soon discovers his family lineage: Piracy and wickedness. And he soon finds a new love interest who is just as broken as he is (Julianne Moore). A curse on their native house in Newfoundland, ghosts, a sixth-sense that some natives have (that comes alive in Quoyle's daughter, too, as the days slip past), homosexuality, incest, murder, family bonds, and a beautifully austere landscape round out much of the story. Didn't I tell you this film had it all? Well...now you'll just have to go and see it for youself! And please do. A remarkable tribute to film making. A rating. Lasse Hallström Scores For Me Yet Again 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. The Shipping News The Shipping News DVD ~ Kevin Spacey is a very good movie. Spacey is amazing as usual and should have been nominated for best actor award. An awesome movie indeed. 5/5. Buy The Shipping News at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Shipping News Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Shipping News This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
|
