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The Station Agent

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The Station Agent (2003)

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Reviews Counted:145

Fresh:138

Rotten:7

Average Rating:8/10

Consensus: A sweet and quirky film about a dwarf, a refreshment stand operator, and a reclusive artist connecting with one another.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] language and some drug content

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Oct 3, 2003 Limited

Box Office: $5,502,491

Synopsis: When his friend and coworker suddenly dies, train enthusiast Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage) inherits an abandoned railway station in rural New Jersey. A dwarf who avoids social contact whenever... When his friend and coworker suddenly dies, train enthusiast Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage) inherits an abandoned railway station in rural New Jersey. A dwarf who avoids social contact whenever possible, Fin treks out to the property and moves in. However, his newly isolated life is disrupted by Joe (Bobby Cannavale), the outgoing operator of a roadside refreshment stand, and Olivia (Patricia Clarkson), a reclusive artist who is grieving the loss of her son. As Joe and Olivia slowly bring Fin out of his shell, all three people are affected by their newfound friendships. Written and directed by Thomas McCarthy, THE STATION AGENT wonderfully mixes drama and comedy in a beautiful countryside setting. Although the storyline acknowledges that the main character is a dwarf and refers to this on numerous occasions, there is much more to the character of Fin McBride than his short stature. As Fin, Dinklage gives an outstandingly nuanced performance, one that is perfectly complemented by Cannavale's happy-go-lucky Joe and Clarkson's mourning Olivia. The movie also features excellent supporting turns by Michelle Williams and Raven Goodwin. Touching but never sappy, THE STATION AGENT is a charming film that easily joins the ranks of other quirky rural dramas such as WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE? and THE STRAIGHT STORY. [More]

Starring: Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Williams

Starring: Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Williams, Raven Goodwin, Paul Benjamin, Richard Kind

Director: Tom McCarthy

Director: Tom McCarthy
Screenwriter: Tom McCarthy
Producer: Kathryn Tucker, Mary Jane Skalski, Robert May
Composer: Stephen Trask
Studio: Miramax Films

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Release:

Jun 15, 2004

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • The Station Agent
  • Winner of 2003 Sundance Film Festival awards (Best Drama, Audience Award; Best Screenplay, Tom McCarthy; Best Performance, Patricia Clarkson), THE STATION AGENT stars Emmy Award winner Patricia Clarkson (TV's SIX FEET UNDER, FAR FROM HEAVEN), Peter Dinklage (ELF), and Bobby Cannavale (TV's 24, THIRD WATCH) in a comedy about friendship that will have you smiling long after the final credits. Fin McBride (Dinklage), a loner with a passion for trains, inherits an abandoned train station in the middle of nowhere -- a place that suits him just fine because all he wants is to be alone. But that is not to be. Soon after moving in, he discovers his isolated depot is more like Grand Central Station. There's Olivia (Clarkson), a distracted and troubled artist, and Joe (Cannavale), a friendly Cuban with an insatiable hunger for conversation. With absolutely nothing in common, they find their isolated lives coming together in a friendship none of them could foresee.
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
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    Reviews for The Station Agent

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    Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
    10/22/03
    Boston Phoenix
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
    04/09/04
    Guardian [UK]
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
    11/01/03
    St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
    07/21/05
    Houston Chronicle
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
    11/01/07
    David Ansen
    David Ansen
    Newsweek
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Derek Adams
    Derek Adams
    Time Out
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
    04/29/09
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Cinema Crazed
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
    10/11/03
    Jonathan W. Hickman
    Jonathan W. Hickman
    Entertainment Insiders
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    06/10/08
    Todd McCarthy
    Todd McCarthy
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
    10/18/08
    Urban Cinefile Critics
    Urban Cinefile Critics
    Urban Cinefile

    ...I was checking my watch every few minutes?even though I knew that I wasn?t wearing one?just because it gave me something to do.

    Full Review Source: NutzWorld | comment Comment
    11/20/03
    Blake French
    Blake French
    NutzWorld

    Each of these characters has a generic, can-be- summed-up- with-one- character-trait quality, and there's no compelling reason for them to exist or for their stories to be told.

    Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
    10/17/03
    Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
    Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
    St. Paul Pioneer Press

    A dull and obvious film posing as a subtle character study.

    Full Review Source: Film and Felt | comment Comment
    01/07/04
    Gabe Leibowitz
    Gabe Leibowitz
    Film and Felt

    The Station Agent features characters so insufferably quirky their relationship could only exist in Indie-wood.

    Full Review Source: Film Snobs | comment Comment
    01/12/04
    Jimmy O
    Jimmy O
    Film Snobs

    As comforting, a bit hokey, and predictable as a CBS Sunday Night Movie, this intimate film should play well on television.

    Full Review Source: Film-Forward.com | comment 2 Comments
    04/15/04
    Kent Turner
    Kent Turner
    Film-Forward.com

    High-concept elements can't obscure how tired the surrogate family storyline is.

    Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY | comment Comment
    10/01/03
    Kim Linekin
    Kim Linekin
    eye WEEKLY

    ...indie flavor-of-the-month Patricia Clarkson is so predictable in her quirky style that you can set your watch by her.

    Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
    02/09/04
    Thomas Delapa
    Thomas Delapa
    Boulder Weekly

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
    03/16/04
    Apollo Guide

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    Full Review Source: Sunday Times (Australia) | comment Comment
    02/02/04
    Sunday Times (Australia)

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    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    Film Threat
     
     
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