'Shipping News' doesn't deliver
"The Shipping News" has all the ingredients for a successful big-screen adaptation of a popular novel: a director, Lasse Hallstrm, who has experience in adapting works of literature to film -- including 1999's "Cider House Rules" and 2000's "Chocolat"-- and world-renowned stars such as Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench. However, this movie can only be classified as an underachieving disappointment that falls short of the lofty standards set by the book. The film centers around a meek newspaper ink-setter named Quoyle (Spacey) whose rebellious wife (Blanchett) leaves him and, before killing herself in a car accident, attempts to sell the couple's daughter to a black-market adoption agency. Adding to his troubles, Quoyle's parents pass away. Upon hearing of their death, Quoyle's long-lost aunt Agnis (Judi Dench) arrives.
