The Shipping News (2001)

While I missed this movie when it first came out in 2001, I caught up with it on the Blu ray budget priced disc. More on the BR later. I've mostly enjoyed director Lasse Hallstom's films, most recently "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen." This is no exception. Stocked with a fine cast, the story involves a dweeb named Quoyle (Kevin Spacey) who is an ink man or something for a Poughkeepsie newspaper. One night as he pulls into a gas station, a beautiful woman (Cate Blanchett) jumps in the car running from an abusive boyfriend. As thanks, Petal (Blanchett) beds Quoyle which results in a child, Bunny (Gainer sisters).

Years later, Petal's wild ways haven't changed. She and her new boyfriend eventually take Bunny with plans to sell her to an illegal adoption agency. Bunny returns to her dad, but Petal and company don't fare well. In the meantime, Quoyle's parents die. Quoyle's rarely seen Aunt Agnis (Judi Dench) shows up and convinces Quoyle to accompany her to their origins in Newfoundland. Once there, Quoyle gets a job at the local newspaper, this time as a reporter. He also meets a beautiful widow (Julianne Moore) and her mentally challenged young son.

Adapted from Annie Proulx's novel, Hallstrom and Robert Nelson Jacobs's screenplay do a serviceable job moving the story along. At times the film wants to slip into fantasy as the Quoyle's sullied history surfaces. For the most part, the film avoids melodrama as it changes tone quite often. Spacey's performance in particular buoys the sometimes sluggish film.

While there is nothing particularly objectionable about the Blu ray 1080p transfer, it's nothing special either. The aspect ratio is 2.35:1 which is close enough to the original. The coloring seems a bit smeary and dull but that could be the film's settings, mostly a bleak and barren north Atlantic seaside. The audio as well is pretty non-descript. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 is fine for most of the dialog driven scenes, but the film has several stormy scenes as well. There are also some shots on and under water that could have been enhanced with a more enveloping audio track. The movie has only one supplement, a 23 minute "Behind the Scenes" short.

This is a quiet, wonderful movie with great stars. It's the story of how one man beaten down by life meets a woman who was picked up by the love of a community from a dark period in her life and fall in love. It is the story of community and how love and ancestry affect our self-esteem. It is the story of how a man learns to see his self-worth and learns to accept his past and create a stronger and better future for himself once he finds his way.

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my husband and my mom loved this movie. this movie is about a bunch of misfits that make their family work,

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My favorite Kevin spacey movie marvelously done and well acted. And beautiful scenery and well directed. And wonderful music. Great in every way

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