Review of The Shipping News (2001) by Spangle — 09 May 2016

The Shipping News is a decent film with good turns from Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore, and especially Cate Blanchett (in an against type role, I might add) that is simply too pleasant to have any lasting impact.

The film, when it focuses on the human element, can be incredibly touching and romantic. Throughout, the characters are well-developed and the result is a cast of people who you really identify with and feel for.

However, the film takes some odd turns, namely when it comes to death and the supernatural. These feel wholly diverting and distract from the overall purpose of the film with the weight some minor characters' death is given.

Additionally, disturbing scenes and elements further confuse the plot and distract from the main purpose of the film: a man taking control of his life and becoming truly happy and fulfilled. These diversions are more distractions and feel more like filler than any character defining kind of stuff.

That said, there is more bad than good in The Shipping News and though it can be kind of slow at times, it is never boring and is truly satisfying on the whole.