Three day weekends at five day a week pay should be compulsory.
Three day weekends at five day a week pay should be compulsory.
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There are some films that should have been made years ago; films which at their core feel deeply genuine in their observations and are deeply touching in their emotional depth and the humour that lightens them. Where fully rounded performances make us understand something important. In the case of The Station Agent it is that even if people don't think they need friendships, they really do.
Fin McBride (Peter Dinklage) works in his only friend's model train shop in Manhattan. The two share silences as Fin tends to the models and Henry Style's to the shop front. One day his friend literally drops dead and Fin inherits an old Station Depot in Newfoundland, New Jersey. In all honesty, it is easy to see why Manhattan holds nothing for Fin. So Fin walks "the right of way" (walking the railway tracks) to his new found home where he hopes to pursue his interest in trains. There he wishes to live his life in solitude, but is forcibly befriended by the lonely and extroverted Joe Oramas (Bobby Cannavale) who runs a hot-dog van from the area outside the Station Depot. Despite his best wishes Bobby has been unable to make friends with the reclusive painter, Olivia Harris (Patricia Clarkson). It is only when Olivia's driving forces her to interact with Fin that Joe pushes all three towards what they really need.
Peter Dinklage's central performance forms the lynch-pin on which the whole film hinges and is perfectly judged. Fittingly - and unwillingly - he assumes the role of the Station Agent. Traditionally the agent who
ran the Depot performed a number of integral functions for his community, and in the same way Fin ends up becoming the hub of his little community offering more than he had bargained for.
It is a shame that more work has not come Dinklage's way, because this actor has a screen presence that manages to powerfully hold the camera for long stretches without interruption. Unfortunately it is obvious why this is the case. It almost seems wrong to draw attention to the reason why in quite the same way as other film reviewers have; as I feel like I run the danger of belittling what is a purely wonderful screen performance. But at the same time Dinklage being a dwarf, and therefore Fin, is integral to the film. As we see the majority of the film from Fin's eyes we see the ridiculous insults, thoughtlessness and strange perceptions that people have of who he is - far from being depressing as some might think, this often causes a great deal of humour at the narrow-minded person's expense. Making it easy to see why Fin would guard himself against the world. It is Dinklage's skill in showing just the right amount of emotion as those walls are broken down that really makes his performance exceptional.
Fin also doesn't feel too like an over-glamorised figure. In his own words he is quite a boring man. After all, just think about the way people use the terms "train-spotter" and train "enthusiast". I almost wonder if a little of Fin's 'boring' characteristics have a little to do with wanting to fade into the background.
A great deal of the depth of Fin's character has to be attributed to Thomas McCarthey whose makes his screenwriting and directorial debut with this film. Apparently Fin was never written as a dwarf, but as a friend of Dinklage, McCarthey decided he wanted him to play the part. At that point Dinklage had to be incorporated into the script. A great deal of which was work-shopped with the actors - for me this explains a great deal. Obviously all the actors must have had a great deal of creative input into the film which can only have made their performances more detailed and the script feel more genuine. Personally I wonder if some of this has to do with his background as an actor and I imagine it must have been a very empowering experience to be involved creatively to this extent; which can only have added to the performances.
Bobby Cannavale as Joe Orasmus acts as a real catalyst throughout the film, and creates a great deal of humour. Joe is a bit like a bull in a china shop, eagerly pushing friendships when it is obvious that others would rather he left them in peace. In this case it is a boyish character trait that still manages to sit with a character who is quite lonely after being drawn back to look after the family business. Joe is the sort of character who really makes you smile. His refreshingly brutal questions that he directs at Fin never seem rude or unpleasant - he really is just asking Fin questions without trying to insult him by being overly politically correct. Although it doesn't stop these moments occasionally evoking embarrassed laughter...
Yet again Patricia Clarkson plays a delightfully oddball character. Although it does make me wonder whether she is beginning to type cast herself in these sort of roles. (It reminds me a little of her character, Aunt Sarah, in Six Feet Under, just with a little more deliberate reserve). Luckily it never seems like she is on autopilot. Instead her gradual inclusion within the trio seems incredibly genuine and touching.
For anyone considering seeing this excellent film, there is one thing that should immediately be pointed out. This is a wonderful film, but it is also a slow one. In the context of the film it seemed perfect to me. The long shots that linger on Fin's face or the quietness as the trio walk the right of way - a term that feels very fitting for those scenes - give a chance to reflect on the characters and try and work out a little more about them.
Thomas McCarthay and his film have deservedly picked up a number of awards and nominations, the most notable being the Best Drama Audience Award and Best Screenplay awards at the Sundance Film Festival. The Station Agent is a simply wonderful film, and is one that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys sedately paced, lightly-comic, character-focused pieces that treat the audience intelligently. Although the ending might be perceived by some as being a little abrupt, it is really a beginning for these people. I find it incredibly refreshing to find myself thinking about where these characters might go and what they might do, rather than being force-fed a two dimensional ending.
Awards and nominations:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340377/awards
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Sounds like an intriguing film, so I'm definately going to have to look out for it...Chris xxx
ruth_cole 26.05.2004 21:20
I loved this film and I think you've picked out exactly what was so special about it... It took me ages and I never put it as clearly as this, nicely done! xxx
TJ-Mackey 11.04.2004 16:29
Excellent review, I've never heard of this one! Patricia Clarkson was great in 'Pieces of April' too... I'll have to track down a copy of this film.
Miramax Home Entertainment presents the critically acclaimed THE STATION AGENT, winner of ... more
numerous awards including the Audience Award for Best Drama at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. Fin McBride (Peter Dinklage), a loner with a passion for trains, i...
Fin McBride (Dinklage) a loner with a passion for trains inherits an abandoned train ... more
station in the middle of nowhere - a place that suits him just fine because all he wants is to be alone. Soon after moving in he discovers his isolated depot is mor...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Some of the characters, it might make you think, it gets more interesting near the end Disadvantages: The start of the movie, the story just isn't quite clear enough IMO, the main character
IzzyS 26.04.2009 (26.04.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Station Agent (DVD)
![The Station Agent [DVD] [2004]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78503010.jpg "The Station Agent [DVD] [2004]")
Apr 4th, 2004
exceptional by (31%):
very helpful by (69%):
