...watching these friends interact is what the movie is about, not what they look like, not what they do, not what they talk about, but how they feel toward one another.
The Station Agent (2003)
Tomatometer
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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
Reviews for The Station Agent
The movie has humor that's not derived from ridicule and an appeal based on the idea that relationships can be a comforting buffer in an often cruel world.
As comforting, a bit hokey, and predictable as a CBS Sunday Night Movie, this intimate film should play well on television.
Go see The Station Agent. It's one the year's best films and I sincerely hope that it is not overlooked.
It might almost be a subgenre: the Accidental Family film. It's enjoyable and a welcome break from the studio pictures, but it's familiar to you even as you're watching it.
Mr. Dinklage projects both size and intelligence in the fascinating reticence of his face.
...indie flavor-of-the-month Patricia Clarkson is so predictable in her quirky style that you can set your watch by her.
'[The Station Agent] is quietly effective, touching one moment, hilarious the next'
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 features characters so insufferably quirky their relationship could only exist in Indie-wood.
I don’t remember a more unusual, or more loving, movie than “The Station Agent.” Ever.
If you're feeling a bit lonely, or if you just want to see an extraordinary film, pay them a visit. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
While many movies reintroduce us to the same old types, The Station Agent is an original -- you've never seen these people on screen before, and it's a pleasure to make their acquaintance.
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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