(rated R, 112 mins.)
Based on Anne Proulx’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel and directed by Lasse (Cider House Rules) Hallstrom comes the story of Kevin Spacey fresh out of his planet “K Pax” shoes. Spacey is Quoyle, a newspaper print setter who hooks up with Petal (Cate Blanchett), a one night stander turned nightmare wife delivering him a child. In one week Quoyle’s parents die, his daughter is stolen and a crotchety old Aunt Agnis (Judi Dench) shows up out of the blue on his doorstep. When the going gets tough the tough take up with Aunt Agnis and head to Newfoundland. While renovating this old haunted house (the family compound), Quoyle gets a job at the Shipping News, a local paper that focuses on the human angle of car wrecks. But when Quoyle’s reporting skills blossom in this place of rough weather and secrets as vast as the ocean, he focuses on the girl in town, Wavey (Julianne Moore). While the story is full of history, legends and sixth sense occurrences, by the movie’s end we never understand much of the Aunt’s purpose in her seemingly strong intentions to up and move. On the other hand, we never connect with any of the characters (although Moore is lovely as the stoic and simple school teacher). At times the film feels like the cold version of the dessert in “Cast Away” but fails to deliver the warmth of Hank’s character. Spacey seems out of place here struggling to maintain a vanilla image instead of his usual sarcastic and brilliant ability. The film’s only strength comes from the small town, odd ball characters hell bent on their ways but not enough to win us over. Blanchett is a whole different story. Her barely recognizable tramp role proves this star is a chameleon. Otherwise, The Shipping News should be shipped out to sea.
