The Station Agent (2003)

95% of critics liked it
(151 reviews)
89% of users liked it
(30,677 ratings)

Actor and playwright Tom McCarthy makes his feature film debut as a writer/director with the quirky comedy drama The Station Agent. In New Jersey, Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage) is a four-foot-tall lonely man who chooses to live the life of a hermit in an abandoned train yard following the death of… More Actor and playwright Tom McCarthy makes his feature film debut as a writer/director with the quirky comedy drama The Station Agent. In New Jersey, Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage) is a four-foot-tall lonely man who chooses to live the life of a hermit in an abandoned train yard following the death of his friend. While he is there, he unexpectedly meets and befriends a couple of fellow loners. Troubled Olivia (Patricia Clarkson) is an artist devastated by the loss of her son and separation from her husband, while carefree and friendly Joe (Bobby Cannavale) runs a hot dog stand. The three unlikely friends each deal with their urge to connect compared with their individual need for isolation. Also starring Raven Goodwin, Paul Benjamin, and Michelle Williams. The Station Agent won the Audience award at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Tom McCarthy
Written By: Tom McCarthy
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 3, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Jun 15, 2004
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Mr. Dinklage projects both size and intelligence in the fascinating reticence of his face.
Charles Taylor, Salon.com
The Station Agent never leaves its sleepy patch of New Jersey. But when it's over, you know you've been somewhere.
Megan Lehmann, New York Post
The powerfully understated charmer, The Station Agent, is nothing more - and nothing less -- than the quiet study of a gently unfurling friendship between three misfits.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
For 88 all-too-brief minutes, we get to hang out with very companionable people, eavesdrop on their small talk and come to know them intimately, perhaps more intimately than we can get to know our own family members.
Kathy Cano Murillo, Arizona Republic
It's a gem to savor.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
As touching and original a movie as you're likely to see this year.
Josh Larsen, LarsenOnFilm
There isn't a character, location or situation in The Station Agent that could exist anywhere other than in a screenplay.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
A quiet joy with breathtaking performances.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
Peter Dinklage details Fin’s solitude in single glances, but his countenance also warms to eventual friendship. It’s an attenuated, reserved, realistic performance — bolstered when we learn Fin is silent because shouting only summons repressed rage.
Jay Antani, Cinema Writer
a charmingly simple character study
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
...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.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
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
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
A pleasurably quaint tale.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lorenzo v

"It's funny how people see me and treat me, since I'm really just a simple, boring person." When his only friend dies, a man born with dwarfism moves to rural New Jersey to live a life of solitude, only to meet a chatty hot dog vendor and a… More
"It's funny how people see me and treat me, since I'm really just a simple, boring person." When his only friend dies, a man born with dwarfism moves to rural New Jersey to live a life of solitude, only to meet a chatty hot dog vendor and a woman dealing with her own personal loss. <center>REVIEW</center> "The Station Agent" manages to make the point that in the end, people are just people, and we can all get along if we make the attempt to get to know each other. It doesn't matter on size, shape, color or ethnic origin - we all have similar desires and goals, things that make us happy and things that make us sad. Left to himself, Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage) would probably have been just as satisfied to live the life of a recluse, but darn it, someone like Joe Oramas (Bobby Cannavale) has to get in the way and be a pain in the neck about it. Which would be OK, if he didn't have to avoid getting run over a couple of times by a distracted Olivia Harris (Patricia Clarkson). Fin, Joe and Olivia are characters one can identify with; they can easily be part of one's own experience, although I don't come in contact with many dwarfs myself. But the dynamic going on in the picture transcends views of people as Cuban, black, divorcée, dwarf or pregnant librarian. It's a film about relationships and how those of diverse backgrounds can be there for one another when a bump in the road occurs. In this case, a bump in the right of way, but you get the idea. This film must have been in and out of local theaters before registering on anyone's radar. I only became aware of it by running across the DVD at my local library. I'm glad I did, and feel strangely compelled to recommend it to friends who most likely never heard of it either. Like the convenience store in the film, this one is 'Good to Go'.
Thomas B

Great script, incredible performances and clever direction. Full review later.
familiar s

Aah, once again goes to prove how diverse (or adverse?) my taste in movies is. I don't know what people liked about this movie, but I didn't enjoy it for sure, thanks to my odd (or bad, if you prefer) taste. I stumbled upon it while browsing through the comedy genre, and… More
Aah, once again goes to prove how diverse (or adverse?) my taste in movies is. I don't know what people liked about this movie, but I didn't enjoy it for sure, thanks to my odd (or bad, if you prefer) taste. I stumbled upon it while browsing through the comedy genre, and seeing its high rating, I decided to give it a go. But little did I know that I was in for a disappointment. It hardly generated two to three laughs for me. I kept waiting for something funny to happen, but nothing worthwhile happened till the end credits started rolling. The movie neither entertained nor enlightened me. Okay, it had some emotional moments, but it wasn't dramatic enough either. All I liked about the movie was its <100 minutes duration (didn't have to suffer too much 'coz of that), and its casting. The protagonist's height was more compared to the film's effectiveness. But truth be told, since it failed to impress me, the chances are pretty high that it might work damn well for you.
Anthony L

A brilliant and original little indie that not enough people have seen! Dinklage, Clarkson and Cannavale developed a really good chemistry together and all put in great performances. On the whole, a sweet and gentle gem of a film that needs more credit!
Randy T

This is one of those gems that few have seen and hardly anyone ever talks about. I liked this film the first time I saw it, loved it the second time, and now, after three viewings, I'm thinking about asking it to marry me.
Alice S

Peter Dinklage is amazing. I love how Thomas McCarthy writes brilliant roles for "character actors," making them leading men in their own rights, i.e. Richard Jenkins in The Visitor. Off-beat, funny story, but last third felt too-much-too-fast.
Jennifer X

I don't think people give simplicity nearly enough credit these days. Awards shows shun them, critics exploit them in order to make a point but then forget about them the next day, normal people don't even know about them. This film isn't about anything but the unlikely… More
I don't think people give simplicity nearly enough credit these days. Awards shows shun them, critics exploit them in order to make a point but then forget about them the next day, normal people don't even know about them. This film isn't about anything but the unlikely friendships that spring up among a town of solitude, trains, and hot dog stands. No other immediate themes spring up and McCarthy doesn't want to make it any more complicated than it already is superficially. It's about comfortable silences and delicious beef jerky and the madness of train chasing. The characters are so natural and comfortable in their uniqueness I can't describe this movie in any word but charming. But not in the quirky self-satisfied charming of jazzy indies, in the charming that seeps into the roots so ingrained in the DNA it is nothing BUT charming.
Julie B

Beautiful and moving.
Jens S

The lovely story of three outsiders becoming friends, told with a really sweet sense of humor and carried by three very convincing acting performances. Although there actually isn't much happening besides conversations and walks, the movie flows really nicely and is over way too… More
The lovely story of three outsiders becoming friends, told with a really sweet sense of humor and carried by three very convincing acting performances. Although there actually isn't much happening besides conversations and walks, the movie flows really nicely and is over way too soon and rather unexpectedly. Somehow it would have been nice to follow those characters around a little longer. Still, I had a smile on my face for 90 minutes.
Cindy I

A kinda slow-moving piece without a whole lot of point, but oddly enough still worth seeing. It's kinda fun to experience how these three people come to meet and become friends. Good cast, too.
Lanning :

Am in agreement with hippychickali. Had no idea what this was about. A wonderful movie. The ebb and flow of the friendship among the three main characters is both believable and moving. A true-to-life portrait of the everyday experiences in our lives. An unexpected treat.… More
Am in agreement with hippychickali. Had no idea what this was about. A wonderful movie. The ebb and flow of the friendship among the three main characters is both believable and moving. A true-to-life portrait of the everyday experiences in our lives. An unexpected treat. 05/06/07 update: Up a half star. As are Dinklage and Cannavale, I am absolutely in love with Patricia Clarkson.
Red L

I always watch this again when it shows up on TV. Not sure why
Jason S

I thought this was a little boring and there wasn't much of a story here.
Aaron N

The three leads in this movie are very good. It's one of those character comedies that most people that actually see it will enjoy, but since it's an independent movie not many people have. It can be very funny, but also has a good amount of drama in it.
Nate Z

[center][img]http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2228/photo053dt.jpg[/img] [/center] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Just to prove I have been seeing movies this month, here are some quick takes on recent releases.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Bubba Ho-tep – Bruce Campbell… More
[center][img]http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2228/photo053dt.jpg[/img] [/center] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Just to prove I have been seeing movies this month, here are some quick takes on recent releases.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Bubba Ho-tep – Bruce Campbell gives a memorable performance as the aging king of rock ‘n roll, Elvis, spending his remaining years wasting away in a Texas nursing home. He and a black man (Ossie Davis), who thinks he’s JFK, battle a mummy that’s feeding on the souls of the nursing home. It’s a fabulous premise, pure and simple. The trouble is, ‘Bubba Ho-tep’ works well in great bits and pieces but doesn’t have the hold of a feature film. This feels more acquainted to a short film or a TV sketch. There are parts where I was laughing hysterically (Davis has my favorite line: “They took my brain! I’m thinking with sand up there!”), and then there are other moments toward the end where I was catching myself nodding off. Writer/director Don Coscarelli has a cool visual palette of light and shadow, reminiscent of Guillermo del Toro (Mimic, Blade 2). He also has a wicked sense of humor. The best moments of ‘Bubba Ho-tep’ are the back-story involving how the real Elvis swapped places to live a normal life. Campbell is wonderful, and the movie is alive in spurts, but it can’t shake the illusion of feeling stretched.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate’s Grade: B-[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The Station Agent – This is the most charming film of 2003, and I’m not just saying this because I had an interview with one of its stars, Michelle Williams (Dawson’s Creek). Fin McBride (Peter Dinklage) is a man with dwarfism. With every step he takes every look he gives, you witness the years of torture he’s been through with glares and comments. He’s shut himself away from people and travels to an isolated train station to live. There he meets two other oddballs, a live-wire hot dog vendor (Bobby Cannavale) and a divorced mother (Patricia Clarkson). Together the three find a wonderful companionship and deep friendship. The moments showing the evolution of the relationship between the three are the film’s highlights. It’s a film driven by characters but well-rounded and remarkable characters. Dinklage gives perhaps one of the coolest performances ever as the unforgettable Fin. Cannavale is hilarious as the loudmouth best friend that wants a human connection. Clarkson is equally impressive as yet another fragile mother (a similar role in the equally good ‘Pieces of April’). The writing and acting of ‘The Station Agent’ are superb. It’s an unforgettable slice of Americana brought together by three oddballs and their real friendship. You’ll leave ‘The Station Agent’ abuzz in good feelings. This is a film you tell your friends about afterwards. There’s likely no shot for a dwarf to be nominated for an Oscar in our prejudiced times, but Dinklage is deserving. ‘The Station Agent’ is everything you could want in an excellent independent movie. It tells a tale that would normally not get told. And this is one beauty of a tale.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate’s Grade: A[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – Without sounding easily bemused or corny, this movie really is glorious filmmaking. With Peter Weir’s steady and skilled direction we get to really know the life of the early 19th century. We also get to know an armada of characters and genuinely feel for them. Russell Crowe is outstanding as Captain Jack Aubrey. His physicality and emotions are expertly showcased. When he gives a motivational speech you’d understand why people would follow him to the ends of the earth. Paul Bettany (again buddying up to Crowe after ‘A Beautiful Mind’) is Oscar-worthy for his performance as the ships’ doctor and confidant to the Captain. He’s not afraid to question the Captain’s motives, like following a dangerous French ship all around South America. ‘Master and Commander’ hums with life, and the battle sequences are heart-stopping and beautifully filmed. It took three studios to produce and release this and every dollar spent can be seen on the screen. ‘Master and Commander’ is fantastic compelling entertainment with thrills, humanity, and wonder. It’s grand old school Hollywood filmmaking.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate’s Grade: A[/color][/font]
Stephen E

The Station Agent is another one of those feel-good dramedies that independent cinema is becoming all too familiar with. But is tepid and predictable like the rest of them? No. It's small-scale, so there's more time dedicated to character development and most of the scenes… More
The Station Agent is another one of those feel-good dramedies that independent cinema is becoming all too familiar with. But is tepid and predictable like the rest of them? No. It's small-scale, so there's more time dedicated to character development and most of the scenes are based solely on dialogue. It's a nice little film that everyone should see because it just has such an important message. It's almost inspiring, in a way. Maybe it will change some peoples perspectives on things they've said or done. And by the way, my favorite character in this film was Joe, played by Bobby Cannavale. What a wonderfully exuberant performance! I hope he received some sort of acclaim for it.
Alec B

It's nice to see Peter Dinklage in a movie where he isn't there as a novelty because this proves he's a really wonderful actor. The Station Agents is about the triumph of personal friendships, and what's great is that its totally believable and never becomes… More
It's nice to see Peter Dinklage in a movie where he isn't there as a novelty because this proves he's a really wonderful actor. The Station Agents is about the triumph of personal friendships, and what's great is that its totally believable and never becomes sentimental.
Laura C

This film was incredibly funny and sweet! It makes me happy to see a film that combines humour and heart. The character development was especially satisfying. It is a snapshot of life rather than a story with a definitive plot. It enables the viewer to enjoy the journey without… More
This film was incredibly funny and sweet! It makes me happy to see a film that combines humour and heart. The character development was especially satisfying. It is a snapshot of life rather than a story with a definitive plot. It enables the viewer to enjoy the journey without worrying about the destination.
Christopher H

Not the worst movie I've seen, but too much on the lines of the "midget" tale of adversity. Nothing against small people, but in movies we've already seen this a million times. But then again, what haven't we seen a million times?
Daniel P

A fave at Sundance, this film may not boast the most exciting-sounding storyline in the world, but this is truly a wonderful movie. If you ever want to see what good acting is really about, then watch this. Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale and Peter Dinklage all give fantastic… More
A fave at Sundance, this film may not boast the most exciting-sounding storyline in the world, but this is truly a wonderful movie. If you ever want to see what good acting is really about, then watch this. Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale and Peter Dinklage all give fantastic performances, in a film that's basically all about friendship and understanding. Sounds meh? It isn't, I promise. This is the kind of film that life is about - my heart breaks and reheals itself whenever I watch this. Go see it now!!!