The Station Agent

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An award-winning independent drama.  Rated R (for language and some drug content).   MiraMax. Running time: 88 minutes</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 26 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>That's what friends are for        </B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Opposite personalities collide and eventually form an unlikely friendship in this Sundance Audience Award winner from debut writer/director Tom McCarthy.  This polar theme isn't exactly revolutionary. "The Odd Couple," "The Mighty" and "Enemy Mine" are among scores of films which center on unusual combos who look past their differences and ignite the fires of a lasting friendship. "The Station Agent" pushes the believability envelope a notch further with this gentle tale of a reclusive dwarf who inherits an abandoned train station depot and reluctantly chances friendship with a carefree hot dog stand owner and a grieving divorcee.</div> <div>    </div> <div> Not exactly "The Three Amigos," "The Station Agent" is a character-driven drama that eloquently paints a full-bodied portrait of three very distinct individuals. The plot is nonexistent here and viewers longing for an action-packed, sex-filled romp should look elsewhere. "The Station Agent" is none of these. Its strength lies in the film's small details, which reveal volumes about the pain and soul-searching that overwhelm Finn and Olivia.</div> <div>    </div> <div> Finn is a dwarf who has grappled with his size identity since birth. School kids taunt him about "The Wizard of Oz," store clerks ignore his presence behind the cash register. Solitude is not what he finds after moving his few belongings into the ramshackle depot. Joe, a talkative busybody minding his ill father's hot dog stand, ignores Finn's one-word replies to his non-stop queries and continues to badger him. Olivia, a divorced artist who has recently lost her only child, nearly hits Finn - twice - as she is driving home and visits him to make amends.  It becomes clear that both Joe and Olivia find something oddly comforting in Finn's stoic personality. Likewise, Finn draws confidence from his new friends' outgoing natures.</div> <div>    </div> <div> Patricia Clarkson (<A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday2002/id1707.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday20"><U><B>Far From Heaven</B></U></A><B>) </B>and Bobby Cannavale (<A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday2002/id1867.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday20"><U><B>The Guru</B></U></A><B>)</B> feel like comfortable old shoes in these likeable roles. Clarkson is fascinating as she slowly reveals-layer by layer-the effects of her life tragedy. Joe-the least developed character of the trio-provides the comic relief.</div> <div>   </div> <div> But it is Peter Dinklage ("Living in Oblivion") who carries the film with quiet strength. A ruggedly handsome man, his portrayal of Finn adds much to the narrow cinematic characterization of dwarfs as real people (Austin Powers' Mini-Me, anyone?). "I Don't Want to Talk About It," a 1994 drama with Marcello Mastrioanni, is the lone film in recent memory that explored the humanity of a dwarf but its limited release prevented any impact.  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>    </div> <div> "The Station Agent" may suffer a similar fate. Too bad because this superbly acted, feel-good film deserves much more. </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> Cathy Edsey Collins © 2003</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:info@reelmoviecritic.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:info@reelmoviecritic.com"><U><U>cathy@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>