Okay, so nobody got back to me about the most acceptable term for a
person of exceptionally short stature. Thanks a lot, guys, now I'm
screwed.
The Station Agent
Starring Peter Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, Patricia Clarkson, Michelle Williams.
Written & Directed by Thomas McCarthy.
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Released: 2003
Running time: 88 min.
Rated: R (American rating for language and drug content).
IMDb link: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0340377/
Alright, we're going to go with the term dwarf- even though I've always
thought that would be an offensive term because thats how the character
identifies himself in the film, and thats how the press information
refers to him, so any hate mail I receive, I'm re-addressing directly
to Thomas McCarthy, the writer/director.
So, yeah, for those
who don't know; The Station Agent tells the story of Finbar McBride, a
hermit train enthusiast who also happens to be a dwarf. Fin works at a
model train shop, and pretty much keeps to himself that is, until the
day his boss and only friend in the world dies, and leaves him some
real estate in rural New Jersey. Fin, out of a job and with nothing
else to do and nowhere else to go, treks up to the property to find
that its an abandoned train station.
As Fin moves into the
area, he runs across some of the locals theres Joe, an incredibly
amiable guy whos running his dads snack truck, theres Emily, the young
librarian who seems to be developing a bit of a crush on Fin, and then
theres Olivia, an artist dealing with an ailing marriage. As hard as
Fin tries to push them all away and keep them out of his life, they all
seem to keep coming back, and slowly a bond of friendship begins to
form.
[BB]
The Station Agent is one film thats definitely told
from a unique and interesting perspective. Peter Dinklage stars as Fin,
and he really takes the opportunity to shineGod, did I just say that?
Anyway,
Dinklage is fantastic in his role, as is the rest of the cast (theres
that phrase again). Bobby Cannavale as Joe the hot dog vendor is
particularly memorable, playing a kind of character that everyones run
across in their life; kind of dopey, a little annoying, eager to be
your friend, and just way too pleasant to say no to. Patricia Clarkson
who seems to be the patron saint of independent film brings a real
dignity to her role as Olivia, the local artist struggling with the
breakdown of her marriage amidst another terrible loss. Michelle
Williams breaks from the typical roles expected of a former WB star and
turns in a very solid performance as Emily, the librarian.
There's
so much to say about The Station Agent, but at 88 minutes it's such a
tight, well-paced film that I feel I might have given away too much
already. Its a quietly, charming movie, filled with good humour and
some real drama you know, the stuff of life. With all its
eccentricities, it could be considered a fairly inaccessible film, but
I dont think this is the case at all. Its a heart-warming story (uck!
Whered that Disney language come from?), but also a fairly important
one, and is definitely worth taking a look at.
Next week: Tarantino and Rodriguez and vampires! Oh my!
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