The Shipping News (2001)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Sajin P

  
  A congenital looser named Quoyle, after having dealt with multiple blows in life, moves with his daughter to his ancestral homeland, Newfoundland, at the urging of his long-lost Aunt, Agnis (Judi Dench). There he befriends a serene single mother, Wavey Prowse(Julianne Moore) and… More
  A congenital looser named Quoyle, after having dealt with multiple blows in life, moves with his daughter to his ancestral homeland, Newfoundland, at the urging of his long-lost Aunt, Agnis (Judi Dench). There he befriends a serene single mother, Wavey Prowse(Julianne Moore) and gradually finds himself accepted into that remote community. Once the story makes the transition to the snowy coasts of Newfoundland, I found myself elevated to a whole another level of movie experience. Maybe it has to do something with the going-back-to-roots premise of the movie. Photographic grandeur of the breathtaking landscapes plays its part in that feeling too. Movie features powerful performances from a clutch of well recognized talents. The simple story can basically be described as one about our search for a place in the world and about coming to grips with the past. Lass Hallstrom, who gave us "What's eating Gilbert Grape", leaves you with a similar experience when you're through with this movie.

• moon r

  
  Not a Corvette this film but rather a stationwagon with room for many (and their assorted baggage) and not a film for everyone, this story of a family returning to it's small town roots I found hypnotic. It's my favorite Spacey film, instantly, Dench was solid as an oak,… More
  Not a Corvette this film but rather a stationwagon with room for many (and their assorted baggage) and not a film for everyone, this story of a family returning to it's small town roots I found hypnotic. It's my favorite Spacey film, instantly, Dench was solid as an oak, and Julianna Moore did not offend me for a change.

• Red L

  
  An interesting family movie - with all sorts of A list stars. Kevin Spacey plays Quoyle, who starts his live over after he goes back to his ancestral home in Newfoundland. I liked the acting by Quoyle's daughter who is played by three sisters (at different ages I presume). I… More
  An interesting family movie - with all sorts of A list stars. Kevin Spacey plays Quoyle, who starts his live over after he goes back to his ancestral home in Newfoundland. I liked the acting by Quoyle's daughter who is played by three sisters (at different ages I presume). I also liked the set - the stark Newfoundland seashore.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore, Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Pete Postlethwaite, Scott Glenn, Rhys Ifans, Gordon Pinsent, Jason Behr, Larry Pine Director: Lasse Hallström Summary: Distraught after the disappearance of his estranged wife, Quoyle (Kevin Spacey) and his daughter… More
  Cast: Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore, Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Pete Postlethwaite, Scott Glenn, Rhys Ifans, Gordon Pinsent, Jason Behr, Larry Pine Director: Lasse Hallström Summary: Distraught after the disappearance of his estranged wife, Quoyle (Kevin Spacey) and his daughter move into their ancestral home with his long-lost aunt (Judi Dench) in Newfoundland, where life is rough and secrets are buried deep. When Quoyle lands a job as a reporter for the local newspaper, a past emerges, a mystery unfolds and life awakens. Lasse Hallström directs this drama based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by E. Annie Proulx. My Thoughts: "Such a great story. Kevin Spacey delivers another flawless performance. He is a favorite of mine and he never disappoints in any film he does. His character Quoyle, in the beginning seemed very naive and to be honest, pathetic. Though his new life in Newfoundland brings with it a fresh start, and you slowly see his demeanor change. He becomes confident and strong in the sense of him finally finding himself. The story itself is a bit depressing in the beginning, but the mood changes throughout the film . The tale is sad, but the ending is satisfying. I liked the symbolism of the house. Just a great story with a great cast. Love Judi Dench. See it if you haven't."

• Leigh R

  
  HEADLINE: A movie to stir the soul.

• Wahida K

  
  At first I thought it is going to be a boring Movie, but I still rented it. I was surprised how Beautiful this Movie is. Kevin Spacey was Brilliant in his role. I wonder where this Movie was filmed. Beautiful Place wherever it was.

• Sophie B

  
  The beginning was a little too fast and confusing however the story was really good and the cast fitted in really well together and gave good performances. At times it was a little boring but I was always guessing at what was going to happen next. Loved the setting and the feel of the… More
  The beginning was a little too fast and confusing however the story was really good and the cast fitted in really well together and gave good performances. At times it was a little boring but I was always guessing at what was going to happen next. Loved the setting and the feel of the movie though.

• Chris W

  
  As offbeat and moving as some of Lasse Hallström other great works. The writing is really good, the camera work is nice, and the performances are also quite good.

• Manu G

  
  Pretty good movie with heart warming touch. A man makes a journey to self-discovery when he returns to his ancestral home on the coast of Newfoundland. After the death of his estranged wife, Quoyle's fortunes begin to change when his long lost Aunt Agnis convinces him to head… More
  Pretty good movie with heart warming touch. A man makes a journey to self-discovery when he returns to his ancestral home on the coast of Newfoundland. After the death of his estranged wife, Quoyle's fortunes begin to change when his long lost Aunt Agnis convinces him to head north with his daughters. He relocates to the small coastal village of Killick-Claw. Now, in a place where life is as rough as the weather and secrets are as vast as the ocean, Quoyle lands a job as a reporter for the local newspaper. He reports on the shipping news as he simultaneously attempts to adjust to his new life and surroundings. In the course of his new career, he confronts private demons, discovers dark family mysteries and finds love with a lonely single mother who has a secret of her own.

• Mouhannad S

  
  "The Shipping News" An inksetter in New York, Quoyle returns to his family's longtime home, a small fishing town in Newfoundland, with his young daughter, after a traumatizing experience with her mother, Petal, who sold her to an illegal adoption agency. Though Quoyle… More
  "The Shipping News" An inksetter in New York, Quoyle returns to his family's longtime home, a small fishing town in Newfoundland, with his young daughter, after a traumatizing experience with her mother, Petal, who sold her to an illegal adoption agency. Though Quoyle has had little success thus far in life, his shipping news column in the newspaper "The Gammy Bird" finds an audience, and his experiences in the town change his life.

• Mike T

  
  Pulitzer prize-winning source material is shaped into a somewhat tired self-discovery story. The heavy-handed emotional approach leaves the viewer feeling disconnected, and a lot of character dynamics feel underwritten or completely unexplained. As a fan of this type of story in… More
  Pulitzer prize-winning source material is shaped into a somewhat tired self-discovery story. The heavy-handed emotional approach leaves the viewer feeling disconnected, and a lot of character dynamics feel underwritten or completely unexplained. As a fan of this type of story in general, I did enjoy it, and Hallström brings a uniquely beautiful mood to the picture that transcends the flimsy adaptation. Kevin Spacey turns in a brave, effective performance that opposes expectations of the type of character he normally plays. The acting is quite solid all around, aside from a miscast Julianne Moore. Whether or not people will enjoy this movie depends on whether or not they want to.

• Daniel P

  
  It stars Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett - three of the finest actors working today - and is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Annie "Brokeback Mountain" Proulx. It couldn't possibly fail.... yet it does; this is spectacularly, embarrassingly… More
  It stars Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett - three of the finest actors working today - and is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Annie "Brokeback Mountain" Proulx. It couldn't possibly fail.... yet it does; this is spectacularly, embarrassingly bad.

• Jason S

  
  Lasse is an assured director, but the material here could have been better. The dances between rushing toward its finale and then a snails pace, but we never connect to the characters and despite how good it looks, its never that memorable.

• Curt C

  
  The book was dull, that should have been my first clue. Julianne Moore strikes again!

• Daisy M

  
  <a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i32.tinypic.com/27yrew0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> The Shipping News impressed me for several reasons: first the… More
  <a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i32.tinypic.com/27yrew0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> The Shipping News impressed me for several reasons: first the location, second Lasse Hallstrom's direction and third the acting by the lead characters and the supporting characters as well, they were outstanding. The beauty of the story, involving familiar dramas that were easily recognized anywhere, was used in here to explore known aspects and to bring them to screen. My mayor credit goes here for the director Hallstrom to put such a great story about grief, family secrets, loss, and love.

• Marcus W

  
  like being hit in the face with wet newspaper

• Sunil J

  
  Judi Dench and Julianne Moore make this movie a must.

Read all 17 featured audience ratings