Michelle Williams and Peter Dinklage
in a scene from The Station Agent
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The Station
Agent
Written and Directed by Thomas
McCarthy
Starring Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, and Bobby Cannavale
Film review by Taryn A. Harris
First time writer-director Thomas McCarthy
delivers a beautiful, yet simple story told with compassion and
dignity -- not something you'd expect from a film that features
a dwarf.
Peter Dinklage is Finbar McBride, a quiet,
pensive employee at The Golden Spike, a model-train shop where
he works for Henry Syles (Paul Benjamin). The two don't say much,
but you can tell they care as much about each other as the trains
they repair and sell.
A devastating loss sends Fin to Newfoundland,
New Jersey, where he becomes the owner of an old train depot.
Although his new surroundings are a bit on the wild and desolate
side, he seems to relish the isolation.
Enter the chatty and nutty Joe played by
Bobby Cannavale. Joe has taken over his father's mobile hot dog/coffee
truck while he's sick and by sheer coincidence, the site of his
truck happens to be near Fin's property. Although Fin wants to
be alone, Joe's big-kid behavior and endless chatter eventually
wear him down and the two beginning hanging out.
The fabulous Patricia Clarkson plays Olivia
Harris, a woman Fin comes to know because she almost runs him
down -- twice in one afternoon. Olivia is an intriguing woman
who paints and has a beautiful home near the water. She shows
up at Fin's place to welcome him to the neighborhood and to apologize
for almost running him down twice and ends up sleeping over.
Nothing happens, but Fin suspects that Olivia might be in trouble.
Fin is used to being left alone. His is
a self-proposed isolation -- a defense mechanism, until he meets
Joe and Olivia.
Raven Goodwin (Cleo) and Michelle Williams
(Emily) round out the cast playing a grade school student and
the town librarian respectively.
It is human nature to be social and connect
with others, but fear causes many to withdraw and to disconnect
from those around us, especially the ones closest to us. In The
Station Agent, Fin's character repeatedly comes to the aid
of others despite his reluctance to get involved. Each time Fin
smiles he learns to connect.
I'm so glad I saw this film and encourage
everyone to see it. It's a fun, heartwarming story with an awesome
cast.
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