Featured Audience Ratings

• Mark W

  
  Having just recently gotten into the HBO TV series "Game of Thrones" and finding the character and Golden Globe winning acting of Peter Dinklage very appealing, I decided to look back at one of his major leading roles in The Station Agent. I had seen this film years ago and… More
  Having just recently gotten into the HBO TV series "Game of Thrones" and finding the character and Golden Globe winning acting of Peter Dinklage very appealing, I decided to look back at one of his major leading roles in The Station Agent. I had seen this film years ago and liked it a lot but on a repeat viewing, I enjoyed it even more. Fin (Peter Dinklage) is a young man born with dwarfism that has consistently struggled to fit into society. He has a passion for trains and works in a shop selling such items but when his only friend and co-worker dies, he finds that in his late friends will, he has been left an abandoned train depot in rural New Jersey. Looking for solitude, he packs up his things and moves there only to find unusual friendships developing with struggling artist Olivia (Patricia Clarkson), trying to overcome a personal tragedy of her own and Joe (Bobby Cannavale) an overly friendly Cuban hot-dog vendor, desperate for some form of interaction with people. This plot summary might not sound like much but don't be fooled into thinking this is an uneventful or boring affair. It's far from it. Yes, not a lot is going on this film but that exactly the appeal. It's filled with such attention to detail and strong characterisation that this film is plentiful. I'm a sucker for these type of low-key, subtle and observant dramas and this debut from director Tom McCarthy is a perfect example of that particular sub-genre. It's a slow moving and thoughtful film that sensitively deals with feelings of loneliness and isolation. To embody the emptiness, McCarthy is aided with three superb lead performances which are poignant and heartfelt but more importantly, realistic. Not a lot going is on in their lives but that's the very thing that holds your attention. It's the bond and the relationship they develop with one another that gives this film it's heart. McCarthy handles the material delicately and seems entirely aware of the appeal that these characters have, as are the performers; Dinklage is an actor with many qualities and it's great to see him in a rare but well deserved leading role. Patricia Clarkson is always an actress I've admired and it baffles me why she isn't seen more often. The biggest surprise though, is Bobby Cannavale who provides the comic-relief to the suffering of the other two. That being said, this film isn't the slightest bit depressing despite the subject matter. In fact, it's a charming and absorbing human tale. An original and affecting debut debut from director Tom McCarthy that displays a genuine warmth and respect for struggling individuals. His ability to be perceptive and humorous is rarely captured so well on screen.

• Jens S

  
  After little man and train fanatic Finbar (Peter "Tyrion Lannister" Dinklage) inherits an old train station house, he slowly has to abandon his solitude and deal with the quirky new neighbors and unexpected visitors. The lovely story of three unlikely outsiders becoming… More
  After little man and train fanatic Finbar (Peter "Tyrion Lannister" Dinklage) inherits an old train station house, he slowly has to abandon his solitude and deal with the quirky new neighbors and unexpected visitors. The lovely story of three unlikely outsiders becoming friends is 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 through rural New Jersey train tracks, it's really entertaining and enchanting. The movie flows really nicely but ends rather suddenly, as if we only had the pleasure to observe their lives for a short period of time. Which is a little sad, it would have been nice to follow those characters around a little longer. Still, a film that beams a had a smile on your face for 90 minutes.

• Drake T

  
  People connecting with one another, in the most quaint and mundane of places. I won't deny there's a sweet intrigue between our protagonists, their complex relationships and how they gradually move from point A to B and finally C in their lives. But honestly, there's… More
  People connecting with one another, in the most quaint and mundane of places. I won't deny there's a sweet intrigue between our protagonists, their complex relationships and how they gradually move from point A to B and finally C in their lives. But honestly, there's nothing about the premise that's genuinely enthralling, it's painfully character driven with no consequence. Perhaps I'm desensitized, but I feel like their story could have been told in a premise of greater grandeur, as it stands it's almost one dimensional. Oh woe is me! I am a dwarf! Boo hoo I lost my child and I see you as him! My dad and I own a shitty coffee truck but I have a positive outlook on life! Look at us relate to each other in one boring set piece to the next! Please...

• Chris W

  
  This seems like a typical contemporary indie film, but that's okay, because this is so simple, charming, and well done that it's really hard not to like. A loner with dwarfism who loves trains inherits a rundown train station where he tries as hard as possible to be left… More
  This seems like a typical contemporary indie film, but that's okay, because this is so simple, charming, and well done that it's really hard not to like. A loner with dwarfism who loves trains inherits a rundown train station where he tries as hard as possible to be left alone and just live his life like he pleases. Of course, that doen't happen, and he slowly finds himself befriending a talkative Cuban who runs a hotdog truck and a distracted artist. All of them have issues, and their friendship seems very unlikely, yet it all works, and the audience is left with an overwhelming feeling of goodness and warmth. The bare bones story is nothing new, and it's basically just a character piece with unconventional performers playing oddball characters (but doing it straight), but the perforamnces are what really hold this together. Peter Dinklage really broke out into the mainstream here in the lead, and he's a real talent (in general), and not just the best type of actor of his sort of stature. Bobby Cannavale shines as the talkative Cuban who, despite being rather overbearing and annoying, is kind hearted and really hard not to like. Patricia Clarkson is also good, though there's nothing really remarkable going on with the type of character she plays. All in all this is a pretty decent film that remidns me of why I like to give indies a watch at times, and that there are still movies beign made where good acting and well made characters are the focus instead of spectacle and cgi.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"It's funny how people see me and treat me, since I'm really just a simple, boring person."</i> 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
  <i>"It's funny how people see me and treat me, since I'm really just a simple, boring person."</i> 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><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></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 <i>The Visitor</i>. 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.

• 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. <p> <b>05/06/07 update:</b> 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]

• Joey S

  
  A very subtle but sweet drama about three loners who meet up and become close friends, The Station Agent is full of emotion, humor, and wonderful characters. Although it's predominantly a drama, the movie is very funny sometimes, especially when Bobby Cannavale is onscreen. All… More
  A very subtle but sweet drama about three loners who meet up and become close friends, The Station Agent is full of emotion, humor, and wonderful characters. Although it's predominantly a drama, the movie is very funny sometimes, especially when Bobby Cannavale is onscreen. All three actors (Peter Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, and Patricia Clarkson) are absolutely fantastic, especially Dinklage who gives a very restrained but convincing performance as a lonely misfit who avoids friendship with others after his best friend dies. The characters are all perfectly rendered and very believable, and they grow on you so quickly that you'll wish the movie didn't have to end so that you could spend more time with them. The Station Agent is a great movie through and through, and it's well worth watching to get to know its charming characters and thoroughly enjoyable story.

• Bryan D

  
  Peter Dinklage is a very talented actor, who holds this film together. Presented in a surreal environment, this fairy tale can be a bit daunting at times, but the talent of the cast on screen manages to rally to make "The Station Agent" worth watching.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings