# What ever became of the Shipping News movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2002, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932 "2002-06-19T19:11:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/1 "2002-06-19T19:11:16Z")
It was supposed to come out early this year but I apparently missed it. Did it tank? Anybody see it? The book was fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/2 "2002-06-19T19:17:15Z")
Came and went. Mediocre to very bad reviews. Should be out on video shortly, I would imagine. Do a Google search for film reviews. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/3 "2002-06-19T19:23:38Z")
“The Shipping News” was released late last year and–despite it’s cast and a huge push for Oscar recognition by Miramax and Harvey Weinstein–received lukewarm critical reception and poor box office. It should be out on video/DVD shortly (if not already). ---
**Author:** ![Nausicaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@Nausicaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nausicaa)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/4 "2002-06-19T19:33:45Z")
Just my two cents… A friend of mine was picked to be a judge for the SAG Awards and he was sent all the movies nominated - so that meant I got to see all the movies nominated for the SAG Award (most of these were nominated for the Oscar as well.) It was very well acted but the story was so depressing - it just wasn’t a fun movie to watch. (I understand that the novel wasn’t that easy to read either!) ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/5 "2002-06-19T19:44:46Z")
Ah well, another perfectly good book ruined by Hollywood. Too bad. **Nausicaa** I found the book to be great. The beginning was difficult because the initial characters were such loosers but as the story builds the main character comes into his own and ultimately is redeemed. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/6 "2002-06-19T19:51:43Z")
According to [DVD Price Search](http://www.dvdpricesearch.com/cgi-bin/dvdcalc2?cmd=calc&tmpCart=17161#top), it’s already out. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/7 "2002-06-19T22:26:54Z")
Yep, I think it just came out on DVD this past week (I say that because my _EW_ mag did a review on it, which they typically do when something is released for rental or sale). It wasn’t in the theaters very long, and even then, I noticed around SD that it was only playing at the artsy fartsy places - Landmark Cinemas and the like. I think it was playing in La Jolla Village, and that’s the only place in So County I remember it playing (of course, it might have been in Hillcrest, too, but I never go there). I missed out on it. But I’m thinking I might just read the book instead. It would probably be more fulfilling. But, as **Nausicaa** mentions, I heard it was difficult to get into. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/8 "2002-06-20T01:39:53Z")
Well, I am one of the few people who saw it. It sure wasn’t out long. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/9 "2002-06-20T12:38:11Z")
It was released on video and DVD this past Tues, June 18th. So it’s available to rent just about anywhere, I’d imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/10 "2002-06-20T12:45:42Z")
It was released on video and DVD this past Tues, June 18th. So it’s available to rent just about anywhere, I’d imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/11 "2002-06-20T13:22:16Z")
I saw the film, and liked it. Thought it was touching. Crying shame when the locals attacked the guy’s boat with a chainsaw. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/12 "2002-06-20T15:06:58Z")
[spoilers] 2 hours of Kevin Spacey moping against a backdrop of gorgeous Newfoundland scenery. [/spoilers] There, I just saved you the price of a rental. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/13 "2002-06-20T16:30:57Z")
Saw it in Blockbuster last night. Didn’t rent it. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/14 "2002-06-20T17:26:41Z")
**scout** –read the book. I have little tolerance for painful fiction (like most of Oprah’s picks), but _The Shipping News_ wasn’t too bad in that regard. It was definitely a good read. Didn’t see the movie. I’d see it for the scenery alone, but I can’t stand Julianne Moore. (Am I the only person in the world who thinks she looks like a Klingon?) ---
**Author:** ![Caesar\_s\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@Caesar\_s\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caesar_s_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/15 "2002-06-20T21:51:04Z")
I just saw it five minutes ago on DVD, and I’m perplexed as to the bad reviews (though I generally disagree with reviewers anyway). I enjoyed it very much, personally, and thought it was an excellent movie. I guess it just wasn’t enjoyed by those people who like happy go lucky “oh everyone is having a good time, yay!” movies. I need to read the book. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/16 "2002-06-20T23:52:13Z")
Well, maybe the åproblem is with the director. It got bad reviews here too (Sweden) and our reviewers genrally give \*Lasse Hallström \* good reviews. His ‘making it’ in Hollywood, and being married to ‘Hollywood Star’ Lena Olin [note sarcasm] is a source of pride for our little country. He did an interview for a [Swedish] TV show as a publicity stunt when it came out in theatres. What he said, made me not want to see the movie: [abr.] “I’m not very interested in telling stories. I’m more into characters and developing those. For me - movies are about painting tableaus and showing situations, not doing plotpoints and trying to create artifiacial conflicts.” When I took a film class in collage, my prof said: “Want to make a bad picture? Use a good book.” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/17 "2002-06-21T00:48:49Z")
> [@](#): > > “I’m not very interested in telling stories. I’m more into characters and developing those. For me - movies are about painting tableaus and showing situations, not doing plotpoints and trying to create artifiacial conflicts.” Now, see, this is the first thing I’ve heard that has made me _want_ to see this film. I discovered from compiling a list of my favorite movies some time ago that I (through what I think is no fault of my own) really enjoy character studies. My two favorite movies of all time (_'Round Midnight_ and _The Conversation_) are much more character-oriented than plot-driven, and I find that of the remainder of my top ten, many are heavily character-driven. What this, I hope, will illustrate is that a movie being more about characters than about plot doesn’t make it a bad movie (not having seen this one, I can’t say whether it is anyway). It just makes it a movie that appeals to a different audience. For what that’s worth. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/18 "2002-06-21T01:15:48Z")
[hijack] Juilianne Moore looks like a Klingon? I think she’s beautiful, not to mention a hell of an actress. She’s the only reason I sat through crap flims like _Assassins_ and _The Lost World_. I’ll probably rent _The Shipping News_ just because she’s in it.[/end hijack] ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/19 "2002-06-21T02:53:06Z")
Knead To Know, then I think you’d be all over this movie. It doesn’t end, really. Because there’s not much of a plot. But I liked the movie. Quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932/20 "2002-06-21T02:54:44Z")
Oh, I forgot to add to my last post, Knead To Know: did you like “Passion Fish” too? My husband about died of boredom, but I was engrossed. I’d recommend it if you haven’t seen it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-became-of-the-shipping-news-movie/114932.md?page=2)