Could this film honestly get any more depressing!!??!
Distraught after the disappearance of his estranged wife, Quoyle (Kevin Spacey) and his daughter move into their ancestral home with his long-lost aunt (Judi Dench) in Newfoundland, where life is rough and secrets are buried deep. When Quoyle lands a job as a reporter for the local newspaper, a past emerges, a mystery unfolds and life awakens.
So basically the way this film starts out is with a big promise. As usual, Spacey is playing the loser without a cause, and looks like this may actually be one of those tragic comedies, but then soon dives right into some upsetting and boring material.
The film is a relentless usage of total coincidences: births, deaths, rapes, murders, and disappearances. It felt like all these little happenings were just put into the film for when suddenly the protagonist came back into town.
I liked the little scenes that were inside the Shipping News paper office. Those scenes actually where the heart of this story was at, and it had a lot of comedy and feeling to these scenes that actually made the film worth watching.
The problem is with this film is that they don’t go with any of these scenes and dive right into boring ass depression crap. I mean honestly there are so many times that this film just was acting bleak and sad, just be bleak and sad. There really served no purpose. A lot of the major themes of Spacey’s character on whether or not he could actually overcome his shyness were never quite answered at the end of the film. Director Lasse Hallström usually makes these lavish, dramas but here fails at bringing any of the core emotions to the screen.
Spacey with all his might gives it all in this film. He is playing such a different and shy character that a lot of the scenes he is carrying. Julianne Moore’s accent was not very believable, and at times I found her to actually be quite annoying when on-screen. The best here is Judi Dench who at such an old age really does bring out her acting chops, and I found many of the scenes with her and Spacey were the best and should have had more of them.
Consensus: The Shipping News has some bright scenes and strong performances, but fails mostly due to its bleakness of the subject material, over-bearing coincidences, and overall way of making the viewers themselves utterly depressed.
3/10=SomeOleBullShitt!!!
What a bunch of assholes.
Those crazy really know how to make movies.
De Niro can get so god-damn creepy sometimes.
What a crazy bunch of celebrities.
With Dear John coming out, this just had to be done.
I remember one day, I was looking up reviews on Eminem’s new album, and one critic compared it to this movie, Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip. Since I had yet to see this movie, I decided to go out and find it.
Proof of why you don’t fuck with Will Smith.
What a different kind of plot, sike!
I wish some of these people were actually smart.
Random hostages don’t always work in the best way.
This Charlie guy does sound like a real dick!
I highly doubt any of these guys would be cops at all.
Sounds like a Pink Floyd song.
Sorry Vinny, but I would not trust you one bit with my kids.
Elijah Wood will never be able to live down his role as Frodo no matter how good he is.
Jesus these people all need to get a room!
Yeah this really is some trouble!
Not quite what I was expecting.
Could not put that disturbing poster of Alec Baldwin and his chest hair, just too disgusting.
In order to prep for Edge of Darkness, I’m going to give this Mel Gibson treat a try.
Brazil is such a fucked up place to be!
Now I can see where Kate Hudson gets her looks!
One of the worst planned out plays ever!
Clint showing he was going to die so early in his career.
Celebrities: sometimes we love them, sometimes we hate them, but mostly we’re obsessed with them.
I really wish I didn’t have to take time out of my life and watch this, honestly.
PT taking a page out of Tarantino’s book.
After reading the novel over the summer, finally got to seeing this.
When realism takes its way into the world of mobsters.
If Philadelphia was a screwball comedy.
Its hard for some people to actually play Mandela.
Whoever knew Jack could be so damn depressing of an old man.
Eddie Murphy’s big-screen debut makes me miss him even more.
Finally saw it after such a long wait!
Controversial back in 1971, not much has changed in today’s world.
It seems like for all these disaster films their always choosing the black leading man, first Will Smith, and now Denzel, you better watch yourself Samuel L.!
Crazy Samuel L. as a high school teacher that don’t take shit!
If your thinking about suicide don’t watch this!
Is greed always good??
One of the most depressing Nicholson films I have ever seen!
Wow, the after life isn’t so bad after all.
God, the world really has gone to whack!
Mall Cops all around the wolrd are forever shamed.
This Bart guy sounds pretty wild.
Not much in this world has changed.
How Steve Zahn got his start, playing Steve Zahn.
Honestly if my chick believed in just fate, then I would dump her ass right away.
Charlie Parker was one messed up dude!
Texas Hold ‘em is such a fun ass game, but also deadly.
Proof that Peter Jackson isn’t the greatest.
Coen Brothers can basically do no wrong.
This movie must of had to be haunted with this final cut.
This film proves that male cheer leading is not gay.
I never really imagined Sherlock Holmes as this type of dude.
One of the best places to hang out no matter how old you get is always going to be, the diner.
Michael Douglas can be one crazy son of a bitch!
I know they say once you go black you can’t go back, but goddamn!
Being a con man, actually looks like a lot of fun.`
If only all drunk people acted like this guy.
Looking fine, Sandra Bullock!
Guy Ritchie aka The Bloke who heard voices.
God, I even wanted to throw that momma from the train!
Saw this with one of the worst crowds of my life.
Young Tom Cruise was such a little devil.
Irish vs. Italians, nothing like it better.
Great way to spend some Christmas joy!
What a messed up title for a non-porno.
It’s always being played on USA, you had to know this one was going to come.
How can William Hurt be gay, its not true!!!
The Messenger? More like The Meh-senger. Okay, now that I’ve fulfilled my quota of one bad pun per blog post, I can get on with this review.
Liam Neeson is not a scientist, that’s how you know that this film is messed up.
After watching this I needed to watch every episode of The Teletubies.
Germany is such a really fucked up placed after all.
God damn do I love Tarantino!!!!!!
If I spent Christmas with these people, I think I’d go Jewish for the holidays.
Now if Dennis Quaid was my savior, I think that would be pretty boss.
A road trip straight from the mind of David Lynch.
This was not needed at all!!
I can only hope that this guy can redeem himself after that piece of crap Cruising.
Scorsese doing what Scorsese does best.
Bill Murray would be the best scrooge of all-time.
Wish I knew more about this film before going in, but regardless still had a good experience.
Respect for Nicolas Cage goes wayyyyyy uppp!!!!
Never has a title for one film fit so well!!
One of the worst pulled-off heists ever in film!
God what a violent weekend it has been for me!
Request from my bud Matt. Keep on sending requests everyone so I can review one of yours.
What was I getting myself into when I was watching this piece of work!!!
Don’t we all just feel like this at one point in our lives.
Now that I look at it, is Mel Gibson really what women want?
Don’t let looks fool you, Michael Caine is still one hell of a bad-ass.
One of the biggest parties of the centuries, that nobody who saw this was apart of.
I feel like I’ve been watching a bit too much Van Sant.
Never have 105 minutes felt like 3 hours!
God why did I miss this when it was in theaters!!!
Why I have decided to review this, I don’t even know.
Finally, I get to see these two work together!!
Matt Damon putting on some big-ass pounds!
Proof that you don’t fuck with Robert De Niro!
Usually I don’t like Gus Van Sant, but he is starting to grow on me.
Oh how love is so beautiful.
HAhahahahhahaha, Neil Patrick Harris!!!
This is why stalking is badd!!!!
Watched this movie with 3 of my pals, and let me just say that is what I call a good time!!!
When I think of what God looks like, I know I don’t think about George Burns.
In order to get ready for Precious, I chose another Lee Daniels film, that I’m hoping will make Precious a better trip than what I expect.
Holy shit man. That was my reaction after seeing this movie. Damn this was a darkass movie but shit, who am I kidding, it’s a Coen Brothers movie. Duh!
I could not have imagined these two as once being the best of friends.
Its official, Woody Allen can do no wrong!!!
Does it actually take 8 different point of views to see who assassinated the president?
If only it was six degrees of Kevin Bacon, then this would have been a 10/10!
What a great Thanksgiving!!!!
The one time that Seth Rogen and Adam Sandler, actually aren’t funny.
Nic Cage takes a ride with a bunch of convicts featuring Dave Chapelle, yeah this is a movie.
This King really does know how to mack back in the 16th-century.
Leonardo DiCaprio can honestly be one annoying little shit!!!
Wow, Jim Morrison was kind of an ass now that I think about it.
White kids, please stay in the suburbs.
Note to future action movies: Professional Athletes cannot act!!
Suck on that, Pirates Of The Carribean!!!!!
Why so many people hated this really does go by me.
I remember when I watched this as a kid and thought it was the funniest thing. Now I don’t even know what I was thinking.
Not one of the better films to watch on veterans day.
Killing zombies has never looked so much fun!
After watching this film, I really want to go on a road trip.
When I think of Black people, i really do think of Denzel.
Honestly could this title get any more catchier??!!
What can the Coen Brothers not do?