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Reviews
The Shipping News (2001)
Cold and miserable as the location it is set in.
SPOILER I saw this movie on DVD. I have not read the novel. The movie left me as cold as the location it is set in. With such dark, depressing subject matter it is vital to have characters one can to relate to or feel something for - be it sympathy, sorrow, anger. There is not one character who grabbed my attention, aroused any emotion whatsoever or was developed so I cared what happened to them. The plot twists and turns and situations pop up for no apparent reason and go nowhere. Nothing is really resolved and the movie just ends.
Kevin Spacey as Quoyle underplays the part to the point of infuriation. By the end I was wishing his father had succeeded in drowning him. Cate Blanchett does a fine turn as the piece of trash Quoyle gets involved with. Julianne Moore is adequate and Judi Dench is, well - Judi Dench.
The resurrection at the wake scene is ludicrous. We are expected to believe that if you have the misfortune to `drown' in Newfoundland that no check is made that your life is extinct and that your body hasn't been `slowed down' by the cold water. You are dressed in your Sunday best and put in a coffin - no medical examiner, coroner, autopsy, embalming or any other preparation of the body for viewing is necessary. The people are portrayed as behind the time, drooling inbreeds, eating seal-flipper pie, committing incest and having very few of the modern conveniences of life. The family home has been deserted for many years, but the family just move right in and within seconds it is all nice and cosy. I rate this 3/10. It is truly dire.
Racing Fever (1964)
TRULY DIRE MOVIE
This movie found its way to New Zealand and I saw it as a child at a Saturday matinee in the small country town where I lived. We had movies twice a week - Friday night and Saturday afternoon and watched anything they showed us. I caught it again as part of a double feature a few years later and thought it was really dreadful, but I can still remember it - funny how things so awful actually make such an impression they stay with you!