The Station Agent Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)September 13th, 2003
THE STATION AGENT
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Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage, "Human Nature") is a dwarf whose life is centered around his job working at The Golden Spike, an electric train store run by his older friend Henry Styles (Paul Benjamin, "Hoodlum"), who also sponsors events for train enthusiasts. When Henry dies suddenly one day, Fin learns that while the shop will be sold, Henry has left him an old train depot in a rural New Jersey town and so Fin's life takes a major turn when he becomes "The Station Agent."
This sweet tale of unlikely friendships is buoyed by the marvelous performances of its star triumvirate. Peter Dinklage is perfection as a man used to isolating himself from the people who generally stare at his diminished stature. Patricia Clarkson ("All the Real Girls") hides great depths of pain over the loss of a child beneath a flightier type of withdrawal as the artistic Olivia. Bobby Cannavale ("The Guru") is a surprising delight as Joe, a great big puppy dog of a man who is simply irrepressible.
When Fin takes up residence in his depot, he draws the usual amount of attention but some townsfolk are more persistent about making his acquaintance. Joe, who is operating his ill dad's lunch wagon, Gorgeous Frank's, takes a daily spot literally outside of Fin's front door (why a business would choose an abandoned area to operate in is one bit of scripting that must be forgiven). Joe accepts Fin at face value, proffering a.m. cafe con leche and company. Eventually Joe just wears Fin down and begins accompanying him walking 'the right of way' along the train tracks. Joe is intrigued by sometime customer Olivia, and is amazed when she emerges from Fin's depot one morning. But Olivia had only fallen asleep after bringing a make up gift of bourbon after having run Fin off the road - twice - the day before. Gradually these odd three out form a strong friendship that endures through bouts of troubled rejection.
Debuting writer/director Thomas McCarthy (who costarred with Cannavale in "The Guru") has made a wholly likeable film that captures a cornucopia of human foibles. Olivia and Fin's relationship has subtly dark underpinnings of both romance and maternal love that is offset by the Mutt and Jeff-like simplicity of Fin's friendship with Joe. The social structure of a place peopled by blue collar 'townies' and affluent outsiders is reflected within the trio, with Olivia's waterfront home a splendid retreat from the weathered and worn, albeit charming depot. Joe tells off boorish regulars who make offensive jokes at Fin's expense and one of those oafs turns out to be the boyfriend of town librarian Emily (Michelle Williams, "Me Without You"), a lovely girl who appears taken with Fin, a potential romantic pairing hinted at by film's end. "Lovely & Amazing's" Raven Goodwin is Cleo, a little girl interested in trains who makes awkward overtures to Fin. She's charming, but McCarthy doesn't successfully integrate her into the film.
McCarthy helps his actors by building up character through odd details. Fin's initial grim outlook on life is reinforced by the daily reminders of his otherness. 'I didn't see you' says a cashier. Henry's lawyer questions why he's never met Fin before - 'You're one of those memorable people' he informs him with gusto. Olivia's bright and beautiful house holds her paintings, expressionistic portraits of anguished women. Her propensity for accidents may be born from the guilt she suffers from having looked away 'for only a few seconds' when her son had a fatal accident in a playground. Joe's boundless good nature is capped by his geeky shower sandals and a cell phone that chimes to 'shave and a haircut.' The joy of sleepovers, Joe's cooking, shared beef jerky and an exhilarating videotaped train chase give way to more troubled times, but the friendship has been built with enough depth to bring the characters through to an earned happy ending.
Cinematographer Oliver Bokelberg ("The Next Big Thing") photographs the town with the filtered light of a sleepy, late summer afternoon. Original music by Stephen Trask ("Hedwig and the Angry Inch") is train inspired country funk and twang.
"The Station Agent" is destined to become a real crowd pleaser, but it will do so marching to the beat of its own clickety-clack.
A-
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