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Movies / On DVD / The Station Agent
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.

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Dramas

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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Reviews for The Station Agent

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
N/R

Derek Adams

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 24 2006 03:29 AM

Time Out

tomato
4/5

Damon Wise

It's The Station Agent's meditation on the smaller things in life that make it such a big deal.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 14 2004 08:16 AM

Empire Magazine

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James Christopher

The brilliance of Peter Dinklage’s performance as the ironclad loner is that he doesn’t much care

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 19 2004 04:11 AM

Times [UK]

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 09 2004 08:17 AM

Guardian [UK]

tomato
4/5

Stella Papamichael

This is a gem of a movie that, like its protagonist, boasts a fiercely independent spirit full of discreet optimism and deadpan humour.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 19 2004 05:16 AM

BBC

tomato
5/5

Matthew Turner

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Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 26 2003 08:08 AM

ViewLondon

tomato
4.5/5

Rich Cline

Superb filmmaking that really touches a nerve yet never manipulates or condescends to the audience for a second.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 23 2003 05:09 PM

Shadows on the Wall

tomato
B

Cole Smithey

...a sweet art film that is unapologetic as it is memorable. Peter Dinklage's performance is poetic and pure as any you will ever observe on screen or off.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 14 2009 07:32 AM

ColeSmithey.com

N/R

Felix Vasquez Jr.

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Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 29 2009 03:15 AM

Cinema Crazed

N/R

Urban Cinefile Critics

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Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 03:40 AM

Urban Cinefile

tomato
3/5

Mark Halverson

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Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 07 2008 03:15 AM

Sacramento News & Review

N/R

Todd McCarthy

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Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 10 2008 03:15 AM

Variety

N/R

David Ansen

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Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 01 2007 03:15 AM

Newsweek

tomato
3/4

Joe Lozito

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Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 14 2007 03:33 AM

Big Picture Big Sound

tomato
3/4

Jay Antani

a charmingly simple character study

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 30 2006 06:59 PM

Perihelion Journal

tomato
4/5

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 06 2005 07:41 PM

Film Threat

tomato
B+

Emanuel Levy

Charming fable about three misfits who overcome personal and social isolation and learn the meaning of friendship and community in the unlikely place of rural New Jersey

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 01 2005 01:35 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 21 2005 03:32 AM

Houston Chronicle

tomato
B

Nick Schager

A pleasurably quaint tale.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 04 2005 09:24 PM

Lessons of Darkness

tomato
3/5

Ethan Alter

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 05 2005 10:27 PM

NYC Film Critic

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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all

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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