This film is magnificent. One of the greatest movies ever made. Those who fail to appreciate the genius of it simply do not understand humanity.

I remember the book in the 90s. 35 years later I am watching the film. It can ruin it for you ... Spacey can't play dumb even if he tried. Blame it on Se7en, The Usual Suspects, and American Beauty, but he's not even even floundering or that gawky like he is playing someone who is dimwitted. Not the right speech syntax. Also, who fixes ropes WITHOUT GLOVES IN WINTER!? Also walking into an abandoned house without a chill? And the musical score is vapid. What the film grossly lacks is how Annie Proulx writes. Short sentences. Full stops. So hard to pull off, and she does. The film can't show this. She is giving the SOUND of living in bitterly cold weather. So impressive. Read the book. Forget the film.

Obviously I am wired differently than most people, because I find it a very good movie. First of all the music is gorgeous and so well integrated in the film that it is almost part of the images. Casting is spot on. Acting could not have been better. Scenario is refreshingly out of the ordinary. Cinematography is unsurpassed.

While it tends to take some minor liberties with Annie Proulx' novel, Lasse Hallstrom's The Shipping News is certainly faithful in spirit to the source material. With his world falling apart in upstate New York, Quayle (Kevin Spacey) escapes to a small fishing village in Newfoundland, where he is able to touch base with his fragile roots and learn the meanings of friendship and family. The whole thing feels insanely predictable throughout as it becomes evident early on that Quayle, a simpering doormat from the start, will find his true calling (and maybe even love) in the harsh new environment. Despite this, it's got a fantastic cast (Julianne Moore, Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett and more), stunning cinematography that captures the rugged landscape, and a subtle but effective score.

This was okay. A bit bland.

Screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs and director Lasse Hallstrom have done a great job of adapting Prulx's story, with cinematic equivalents for some of the book's best prose. Spacey of course is one of the most brilliant actors ever to appear in a movie, providing Qyoyle with emotional eloquence even when he does not speak. Every performance is jewel-like, including Dench, Blanchett, Julianne Moore who befriends Quoyle, Scott Glenn, and the triplets playing the part of Bunny. The novel presented a real challenge to the filmmakers. Its dense descriptions of crafts and weather do not translate to the screen. The real action goes on inside the undemonstrative Quoyle and only an actor of extraordinary range and power could communicate that to a movie audience. The movie is good, but a lot gets lost in translation.

I think I'd have liked this movie more if I had managed to care whether they were able to renovate that house or not. It didn't seem likely when they walked in and I never felt a yearning for them to finish it so that the family could move in. Without that motivating factor all of the plot points came off as banal and dull, with very low stakes in the areas where suspense or tension was intended. It seemed to me like the author spent a great deal of time fleshing out the characters in this story and the movie portrayed those characters wholeheartedly, but they lost something that made the plot compelling reading material in the adaptation. This movie has contributed to a re-evaluation of my opinion on Dench; I have an automatic love for her as an actress who resembles my own grandma, but in every movie I've seen where she's gotten awards recognition for her performance I've been unable to discern what exactly she's doing to earn such praise. This movie (and several others like Shakespeare in Love) play like someone invited Dench to their set, gave her a costume and asked her to read some dialogue with no variation in her inflection, emotion or facial expression.

La vita in una cittadina costiere del nord America si presenta con spunti interessanti e con qualche personaggio dal buon potenziale. Ma alla fine i difetti probabilmente superano quel che c'è di buono; troppi caratteri vengono "sviluppati" in maniera sbrigativa e senza grosso interesse; primo tra tutti quello di Cate Blanchett. Nel finale ci si trascina abbastanza verso ciò che è ovvio, ma si perde lungo la strada il brio nel farlo.

The novel won the Pulitzer. The movie is very worthy of watching.

fails to capture the spirit of the book.

I found it puzzling way back in 2001 when this movie received only two stars, and I am more puzzled today--nearly 20 years later. A few reviews from back then faulted it for being slow-moving and somewhat dull. Nonsense! Perhaps those pundits had been raised on the sugar-high of too many garish Technicolor extravaganzas to appreciate the restrained directorial hand that deftly combines the raw, savage beauty of the setting with the fragile but resilient humanity of the characters. This is magical realism at its best--a ghost story, a coming of age, and a tale of redemption all in one. The performances are spot-on, the soundtrack evocative and the LAST thing this film is is "dull".

When you look at the talent who were drawn to this film, you would assume a great concept and film. Sadly this film is a missed opportunity. Kevin Spacey in my opinion is wasted and not the correct actor for the film, he never looks or feels comfortable in the lead. I wanted to enjoy this film as Hallstrom had made The Cider House Rules, which is an incredible film. The film is beautiful to look at and the township is amazing, but as an overall film this suffers from odd choices. 16/04/2019

A mysterious film about Quolye (Spacey) who returns to his childhood home to face his fear of water, and ìs on a journey of self discovery. He is widowed and escapes with his child to start a new life. Well acted and a great cast including Judi Dench and Julianne Moore.

Please remake this WITHOUT KEVIN SPACEY. It is such a great second chance story. He ruined it. #1 no chemistry with Moore #2 He is not the big man from the book( John C. Rielly is) #3 Keven Spacey ruined the movie

O.K. Pleasant enough. Certainly not as bad as critics were making it out to be. Certainly better than book. Still don't see what anyone saw in the story. Just doesn't go anywhere.

Desolate forgiveness.

A mysterious and quirky story of a beaten man trying to heal. Incredible cast. The story flows from haunting and secretive to tender and revealing. A good add to a wintertime movie watchlist.

If a piece of knotted string can unleash the wind, a drowned man can awaken, then a broken man can heal. Headlines: A deadly storm takes a house, leaves excellent view. A provincial small town by the Newfoundland coast and the dark sordid past of pirate raids and incestuous scandals hanging over the Quale descendants gave us this oxymoronic dark yet quaint tale. What began and for most part, a pessimistic tale would end on a positive note of hope and new beginnings. A very impressive cast of excellent actors with Kevin Spacey, Judi Dench, Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett and Scott Glen. Need I say more?

En provinsiell småby ved Newfoundland kysten og den mørke fortiden av pirater og incestuøse skandaler hengende over Quale etterkommere ga oss denne mørk men likevel sjarmerende fortelling. Det som begynte g for meste, vil en pessimistisk fortelling avslutte på en positiv tone av håp og ny begynnelse. Det er fremdeles så mye at Kevin skjønner ikke. Men, hvis et snøre med knuter kan slippe løs vinden, og hvis en druknet mann kan våkne, da tror Kevin at en ødelagt mann kan leges. Overskrift- Dødelig storm tar hus. Etterlater flott utsikt. Meget imponerende cast av gode skuespillere med Kevin Spacey, Judi Dench, Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett og Scott Glen. Trenger jeg si mer?

more movies about/set in newfoundland!