[6]

Kevin Spacey stars in this Lasse Hallström film based on the Annie Proulx novel about a widower who moves with his young daughter to his ancestral home in Newfoundland to start a new life. Judi Dench plays Spacey’s aunt who encourages the move and Julianne Moore plays Spacey’s nascent love interest. I’ve only ever bought Spacey in angry, authoritative roles. Whenever he’s playing downtrodden or depressed, I’ve always wanted to call ‘bullshit’, and The Shipping News is no different, unfortunately. Another actor would have been better in this role. Dench and some of the lesser-known supporting cast members give memorable performances, and Hallström (The Cider House Rules, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape) is always good at establishing a compelling setting. In fact, the locations are probably my favorite thing about The Shipping News (I kinda want to move to Newfoundland now). Without the unique setting, some colorful backstory moments, and a few dashes of dark comedy, the film is really just your standard “starting a new life” movie. With Cate Blanchett, Scott Glenn, and Pete Postlethwaite.