Am I back?? I dunno. Have I the front?? Where do you side?
Am I back?? I dunno. Have I the front?? Where do you side?
Member since:14.08.2002
Reviews:150
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Yes, with one considered fell swoop, theediscerning has further dented this highly thought of, heart-warming, intelligent film's very high star rating here on Ciao. Why, and what do the film-makers think of that? Let's find out.
(Although for obvious reasons the second half of that question is impossible to answer.)
The Station Agent is one of those films that emerge from America every now and again - with the production values that suggest it's not a budget indie, and with the artistry and sensibility that Hollywood can never match. People still respond to such films with much delight and surprise, and when you consider how much thought has gone into this little gem, perhaps they're right to do so.
The Prof, as Finbar McBride is known, works at a very quiet little model railway shop. Custom is slow, but on track. However his aging black colleague/boss derails things by collapsing dead on the store floor.
This causes that dumbass, wide-mouthed one from Spin City to have a cameo as a solicitor, who explains the shop has six weeks left before liquidation, and that Fin has inherited a station depot in the middle of nowhere. Fin picks up his luggage, and quietly heads there to live.
Not that Fin is packing much, for he's able to travel light - he's merely four foot five or so. He gets some light-mannered stick from some kids, but you can tell from his stoic silences and mannered look he's used
to worse.
What he gets from his new neighbours is surely a surprise, however. The convenience store is inconvenient to all, a mile and a half through the woods. On the way there - and again coming back - he nearly gets run-over by a clumsly, anxious artist, Olivia. It's not the finest of welcomes.
Fin is also very wary about the other main character of the film, Joe. For no reason his dad runs a coffee and snacks caravan in that middle of nowhere, and he's taking care of business while said father is ill. Joe, to Fin and probably most of us, has social problems - he can't shut up and appreciate calm and silence, he thinks everybody deserves to be his best friend, and he can't appreciate being given no for an answer.
As a result, when Fin is living his days in leisure by "walking the right of way", and strolling along the district's railway tracks, Joe is insistent on coming along too. Which would be fine if he didn't then complain of hurting feet.
This all may sound a bit humdrum, and in bare bones it is - it is in the telling of this gentle story the enjoyment lies. The fact that by the end all three are placidly enjoying each other's company in measured tranquility is not a surprise, and there are very few surprises here anyway, but the way all three characters - and a couple of cameos elsewhere - gel together and change each other is what's being looked at.
Olivia the artist, played by Patricia Clarkson, is a good role. She may start out as too clumsy, but she's quick to calm down - although fires up when her ex returns. She's quicker to accept Fin's calm way of life, but not before spending the night on his couch and thus leading Joe to have jealous delight in what he sees as Fin's success with the ladies.
Joe, or Bobby Cannavale in real life, is fun. Again, perhaps, at the start of the film he's too broad a personality, but he's soon knocked into shape by Fin's reluctance to banter. He likes the women, he likes his weed, he likes to spout different languages like the wild-living Manhattanite he would be but for his duty to his Pop.
It's another good performance for a good character, but pales against the whole raison d'etre for the film. Peter Dinklage as Fin is first-class. Whether in tight close-up or in long shot, we can see his reluctance to let anything get in his way - which initially at least includes friendship. The way Fin moves his eyes at every comment he thinks is odd - and there are a lot of them, the regularity of his strolling, satchel over his arm, the way he rolls off physical threats from the local sexy librarian's boyfriend (find out for yourself...) - all add up in small detail to a fine performance. You can then feel for him more when Olivia flares up at him, for that truly hits him, and we can see it perfectly.
The parts of the leads were written for the three actors by writer and director Thomas McCarthy, making a brilliant debut feature. He might have been served better by using wide-screen ratio, but his shots are great, direction fine, and there's nothing to complain about.
If, that is, you can fall under the film's spell. If you consider that hardly ever outside The Pianist has a lead actor been on the screen so much and said so little, you can see how some people would turn off. However that's not a problem for this viewer.
There's a great soundtrack too, almost like an instrumental O Brother, Where Art Thou, with banjos, saws and other instruments. There's a calm sexuality to the film even, and great gentle humour. But if there was a problem it's with slight niggles over Fin's arrival.
For it is at this time that Joe and Liv are too broad, too quirk-by-numbers almost. We didn't need such contrast with Fin to see the differences they had. Also, Joe's dad would never choose a spot like he did for his patch. It's this period of the film, on reflection, that loses the great feel of veracity and truth the rest bears, which is a shame.
In the real world the film was shot in under three weeks, for at the most half a million dollars, and became a sleeper hit grossing over ten times that in the US. The scouts for Miramax found a good one - again.
The DVD reviewed came rented online, and featured several deleted scenes, several being just extended pauses featuring Fin's boss, which might have overbalanced the film before the 'start'. None would add a great deal. There is the usual trailer, and commentary, which is the director and three leads all gabbling away, laughing too much, and not really adding a lot.
While the film's short running time may have put you off going to see it at the flicks, the DVD is a good value package. The film is the perfect length, and well worth sofa time.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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I hadn't heard of this one before. I sounds great so I think I shall have to get this one. Great Review. Sarahx
hiker 09.09.2005 20:01
Good to know they still make films like this...though I'm well prepared to believe that people set up business in the most unlikely spots...it sure cuts down on them annoying customer-thingies. Lx
sylviesinc 07.09.2005 22:43
I have to admit that I didn't much fancy it until you mentioned the sound track. I adored Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? and the music was brilliant. I may have to see this just for the soundtrack!
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: A truly wonderful film that is heart-warming whilst having real depth and humour Disadvantages: Peter Dinklage hasn't had nearly enough work come his way for such a good actor
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]")
Sep 5th, 2005
exceptional by (3%):
very helpful by (97%):
