Short, punchy, dramatic headlines

Hailee 2021-12-30 17:17:19

Billy: "...have a look, what do you see, tell me the headline"

Quoyle: "Horizon fills with dark clouds..."

Billy (shook head): "Imminent storms threaten village"

Quoyle: "but what if no storm comes?"

Billy: "Village spared from deadly storms"

One of the few nice moments in Shipping News-the movie. Otherwise the film felt extremely rushed, took shortcuts whenever possible, often shamelessly. Some supporting roles were wonderfully casted, like the Gammy Bird gang. But the main characters were light years away from the original book. Kevin Spacey was way too smart a guy for Quoyle and all his acting talent couldn't help. Blame on the lasting impressions from "The Usual Suspect".

If you have read the book, don't watch the movie. If you have not watched the movie, read the book instead.

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Extended Reading

The Shipping News quotes

  • [first lines]

    Quoyle: [father teaching him literally to sink or swim]

    [voice-over]

    Quoyle: I used to imagine that I'd been given to the wrong family at birth, and that somewhere in the world my real people longed for me. From where my father stood, my failure to dog-paddle was only the first of many failures. Failure to speak clearly, failure to sit up straight, failure to make friends every time we moved to another dreary upstate town. In me, my father recognized a failed life. His own.

  • Petal Bear: Look, it's no good. Find yourself a girlfriend.

    Quoyle: I don't want a girlfriend, I want you.

    Petal Bear: [shrugs] Your funeral.