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The Station Agent (2003)

Rate: 7
Viewed: 5/25

5/25: The Station Agent is among those independent drama pictures that give everybody a chance to do something serious and grounded.

At least, it's not stagy, talky, or overly melodramatic. Characters appear one by one, and they become well-developed in the long run. However, it's not necessary to read too much into them. They're people and nothing more. The writing is fine, but I recommend inserting more facts about trains. Fin could've also talked about his former line of work in the hobby shop. As to the question posed by a student, blimps started in the early 20th century, so trains came first. Remember the Hindenburg disaster?

Having appeared in The Untouchables and The Dead Pool, Patricia Clarkson is the most experienced of the cast, but her character is nothing new and has been explored by Naomi Watts in 21 Grams during the same year. On the other hand, Peter Dinklage tries to pioneer a change for the little people to be taken seriously in Hollywood which is commendable. However, he needs to work on his range more.

I can feel for Fin by putting up with the annoying dude by the name of Joe who's played by Bobby Cannavale (it's quite easy to tell he's been schooled by Sidney Lumet's films; as a matter of fact, that's his ex-father-in-law). He won't shut up or go away. I don't see any commercial value in the placement of his food truck. Barely any consumers showed up. Then again, he's dumb as a bag of rocks. Incidentally, the book Joe was reading is All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. It's highly doubtful he would understand or finish it. Ditto for the other one which is The Kid Stays in the Picture by Robert Evans.

All in all, if you find everything from Freaks to Austin Powers films involving Verne Troyer demeaning, The Station Agent will be a refreshing change.

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