The Station Agent
When his only friend dies, a young dwarf named Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage) relocates to an abandoned train station in rural New Jersey, intent on living the life of a hermit. But his solitude is soon interrupted by his colorful neighbors, which include a struggling artist (Patricia Clarkson) coping with the recent death of her young son and a talkative Cuban hot dog vendor (Bobby Cannavale).
Member Reviews
This "small" film is a big pleasure - Nonlemming
I worry that people will miss this film. It doesn't have any big stars and has a title that makes it sound like an East German passport documentary. That would be a shame as there are big and small lessons to learn from this movie.
It is rare to have a movie where all the characters are enjoyable, likeable and lifelike, even if eccentric. While this is a "slow" movie, I found it easy to get sucked into their loose triangle, to feel every sting that Finbar felt and to hope that all would end well for all involved.Characters who walk the right of way - napierslogs
Set in Newfoundland, New Jersey, "The Station Agent" is an uplifting film about finding a home where one belongs. The characters are all alone, either out of choice, necessity, or as consequences. Fin (Peter Dinklage) is a short-statured adult living alone mostly because of the way people respond to him; Olivia (Patricia Clarkson) is trying to escape her life; Joe (Bobby Cannavale) is running a lonely hot-dog stand for his ailing father.
Short-statured adults are frequently in films as characters to laugh at. The good thing about Peter Dinklage is that he actually acts in his roles. The great thing about "The Station Agent" is that they gave him a leading role and which validates his thoughts, feelings and opinions. Some people want to laugh at, insult and hurt him, others are confused by him, or don't know how to properly respond to him, while others just want to be his friend or end up being his friend when they want to be alone just like him.
For the amount of loneliness displayed in this film, there is no despondency. We are given a fair amount of humour and a surprisingly positive ability to rely on the kindness of strangers, even when the strangers aren't intending to be kind. "The Station Agent" is a well written, intelligent and original film that "walks the right of way".
Follow my blog Napierslogs' Movie Expositions at http://napierslogs.blogspot.comThe Station Agent - RogerDaniels
Tom McCarthy’s films seem completely preoccupied with loneliness. This loneliness dominates the entirety of both his films: their shots, their performances, their music and their narrative. In "The Station Agent", we are brought into the world of lonely man who merely soaks in that loneliness, a man’s whose only focus in life is his unquestionable love for trains. Sounds like a depressing film, right? The surprising thing is that it isn’t at all, unless one considers thoughtful-quiet depressing. It’s a true comedy, with plenty of laughs but these laughs aren’t at the expense of the characters. It’s a sympathetic movie, with terrific performances from Peter Dinklage and Patricia Clarkson and a great, uplifting spirit to it. "The Station Agent" is a film affirming humanity, and a pleasure to watch.
Member Reviews
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This "small" film is a big pleasure - Nonlemming
I worry that people will miss this film. It doesn't have any big stars and has a title that makes it sound like an East German passport documentary. That would be a shame as there are big and small lessons to learn from this movie.
It is rare to have ...Characters who walk the right of way - napierslogs
Set in Newfoundland, New Jersey, "The Station Agent" is an uplifting film about finding a home where one belongs. The characters are all alone, either out of choice, necessity, or as consequences. Fin (Peter Dinklage) is a short-statured adult living alone ...The Station Agent - RogerDaniels
Tom McCarthy’s films seem completely preoccupied with loneliness. This loneliness dominates the entirety of both his films: their shots, their performances, their music and their narrative. In "The Station Agent", we are brought into the world of lonely man ...