Film Seven: The Shipping News

Film Review:

I can't explain why but I never really fancied this film at all, it was one of the few Julianne's I had never watched before. It was my friend Emma that told me to watch it so off I went and into the dvd player it went. And wow! What a brilliant film. I feel it is a very simple film, it is simply about a man coming to terms with his grief, nothing fancy or over the top but dealing with a very human emotion and each of the characters had their own trauma to deal with. Quyole must come to terms with the fact that Petal never really loved him and his only experience of love was one of pain and loss. Agnis had to come to terms with returning to her home and facing her awful demons and remembering that love and happiness were both possible and Wavey had to let go of her husband and realise that although it felt like only yesterday, there was still the chance for tomorrow. I loved how simple the film was and felt that it was carried by the stunning performances. Spacey was just so understated and such a likable protagonist, even when he was behaving like a bit of a drunken tool. There was real heart in the performance and I rooted for him every step of the way as he went from a sad doormat to an enriched, successful writer and a good father. Blanchett was great too in quite a cliched role, she was just a unlikable character and it certainly seemed like she was having fun. Agnis was able to confront her demons and Dench was so stoic and likable, what appeared to initially be an lighthearted and comedy performance became something of intense pathos and sadness and it really was just a joy every time she appeared on screen. The scenery was stunning and the film was visually a treat, so epic and grand. It looked like a really epic film, but it really was a small film about believable and realistic people. And then there is Julianne...

Top Julianne Moment

There is something so beautiful about the scene where Wavey asks Quoyle if she has blown it and whether he still wants to be her friend. It captures that slight insecurity that exists in us all. After you say something or react to something and then worry about it being the right thing or not and then it's on the tip of your tongue whether you should ask or not. So realisitic.

Julianne Review

I just loved Julianne in this, so unexected. It was such a subtle performance, she wasn't over the top or in your face, she was quite clearly Quoyle's road to redemption and it was the strength of her performance thta made is so believable. The scene where they are flying the kites and Quoyle rests his head on Wavey's leg, the look on Julianne's face is brilliant, you have all her demons and the fact she has not dealt with her husband's death and the pain is still raw, THEN you have her concern for Quoyle, who she obviously cares for deeply and is not concerned she will hurt him. Just a masterclass of face acting, no over the top, stating the obvious, just a look and that is why she is so fantastic.

Wavey was the person that was able to save Quoyle and show him that there was still a lot of life worth living and he could still find happiness. Julianne does that for me sometimes, now I can assure you I'm not on the edge or in as bad a situation as poor Quoyle, but I had a difficult week this week. My partner and I aren't having the best time, he doesn't seem to know how to be in a relationship, for example, he was away to London this week and didn't even mention it to me, so obviously I felt a bit put out, he's also far more concerned about seeing his mates and I just felt like I was on the bottom rung of the ladder and not very important. We have been together 7 months now and I'm still waiting to feel like I'm in a serious relationship, he's still too scared to use the word "boyfriend" for christ sake. He's never been in a relationship before and I honestly don't think he understands how to. I felt pretty down this week about it, work was tiring and I came home looking for some understanding but got none, didn't even hear from him. But alas, then something comes along and makes you ignore all the stupid drama of it all and of course it was Julianne.

http://scottfeinberg.com/soliloquies-that-sealed-the-deal

Just reading that speech from Julianne makes you realise how difficult relationships can be and makes you realise that you have to work at them and put the effort in and it certainly isnt easy. Of course he knows none of this because I'm an idiot and don't actually discuss how Im feeling about the situation but instead I just watch the trailer for "The Kids are All Right" over and over again and hope that it all just works itself out. I suppose I feel a little bit like I don't want to run the risk of being alone and if I'm not with him, then I'm alone. I wonder what Julianne would do?

There is just something about her different performances that I can always find to make me feel better and make me think about things more clearly, it's what makes her special I think. When I write on here, it feels like I'm able to say all the things to Julianne that go through my head before, after or while I'm watching one of her films and maybe that's why I am able to be far more honest than I would be normally, even with my bloody partner.

Just from sitting on a friday night and watching "The Shipping News" I was able to put into words the way I was feeling and that's because of Julianne and the way she made me feel during that film, maybe out there somewhere is my own version of Wavey, because I would really like to meet them and I would really like for them to make that feeling and fear of being alone disappear. I guess that only happens when you do meet that special someone, that Wavey. But hey, until then I still have Julianne, as always, thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x1z8IK-L0U

You should watch "The Shipping News" if you haven't already! Enjoy everyone!