The cinematographer Oliver Stapleton finds a rough beauty in the bays and coves, some richness in the weatherbeaten buildings and weatherbeaten people. Set and shot in rural Newfoundland, "The Shipping News" avoids the visual bleakness that would be so easy to fall into with these roughhewn, and often icy, exteriors.
Which is not to say that he's incapable of flourishes. They're intelligently made and they're about adult emotions, and since Hallström works beautifully with actors, you can be assured of several good performances in each movie. Apart from their attention to the old-fashioned virtues of story and character, Hallström's movies offer a respite for audiences weary of pop junk.
It's obvious why his movies get generally decent reviews and do respectable business.
Coming after "The Cider House Rules" and "Chocolat," "The Shipping News" is further proof that Lasse Hallström has a real talent for smooth, craftsmanlike mainstream moviemaking.
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