Writer/ director Thomas McCarthy has done a fine job of exploring loneliness, alienation and opening up to the world – and without sounding a single false note in the process.
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.
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
Reviews for The Station Agent
So modest, unassuming, and in touch with the way human beings interact with one another that it’s almost impossible not to appreciate or enjoy.
'[The Station Agent] is quietly effective, touching one moment, hilarious the next'
It feels less like a modern motion picture than some odd poem long lost and then discovered in another age, a timeless, ageless gem of hard-resined emotions melting into real life.
This is a gem of a movie that, like its protagonist, boasts a fiercely independent spirit full of discreet optimism and deadpan humour.
Dinklage's face and demeanor, his sense of solitude, ballasts some of the film's loonier episodes. There's always something on his mind, and you're always wondering what it is.
...indie flavor-of-the-month Patricia Clarkson is so predictable in her quirky style that you can set your watch by her.
Rarely has friendship -- honest, genuine friendship -- been portrayed so truthfully, with the gentle humor that belies real intimacy.
It’s just a marvelous, unforced character study about a group of individuals gradually becoming a community.
Yes, this is a comedy, but it's also sad, and finally it's simply a story about trying to figure out what you love to do and then trying to figure out how to do it.
In this good natured study of humanity, writer-director Tom McCarthy assembles a small group of such disparate characters and backgrounds you'd think he was trying to say something about the extreme social possibilities that thrive in America.
But if you want to see three people flower emotionally in a way you have never seen before, you should enjoy this film.
The Station Agent avoids exploitation for a sincere examination of the value of friendship.
Latest News for The Station Agent
September 12, 2007:
RTIndie: TIFF Acquisitions Include Controversial, Political Films
This week in RTIndie, we have a roundup of the some key indie acquisitions from the Toronto Film festival. Also, our DVD Pick of the week spotlights the latest from a legend of... More...
March 31, 2006:
Dinklage to Play "Underdog" Villain
Peter Dinklage, indie-centric actor best known for his work in "The Station Agent" and "Elf," has been tapped by Disney to play the villain in the studio's... More...
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