The Station Agent
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Mon 7 June 2004 // 19:00
Tue 8 June 2004 // 19:00
*
Wed 9 June 2004 // 19:00
Thu 10 June 2004 // 19:00
THE STATION AGENT
(McCarthy / 2004 / USA / 98 mins / cert 15)
(Mon 7th-Thurs 10th / 7pm / £4/3/2ttt)
In this delicate, thoughtful and often hilarious take on loneliness. a dwarf named Fin (Peter Dinklage) settles into a remote outpost - a rundown train depot in the wilds of New Jersey - that is so restful it seems perfect for him, but gradually he attracts the interest of the locals. Both hostile and forthcoming characters cross his tracks until a friendship develops between him and Joe and Olivia, who he initially resisted contact with (Bobby Cannavale and Patricia Clarkson). As the trio gets better acquainted, they gradually open up to life's possibilities, and the thorny intricacies of each other's psyches. Fin's obsessed with trains. The station, though, is mostly deserted, and can only provide an incomplete fantasy.
The script is lean on dialogue but sparkles when it speaks. First-time writer/director Tom McCarthy has an innate sense of timing, exhibiting an instinctive flair for spare filmmaking. A movie about a dwarf certainly flirts with being cringe-worthy, at least in the abstract, but the director deals with his creations as rounded characters. The Audience Award winner at the Sundance Film Festival is every inch worthy of its fulsome kudos.
(McCarthy / 2004 / USA / 98 mins / cert 15)
(Mon 7th-Thurs 10th / 7pm / £4/3/2ttt)
In this delicate, thoughtful and often hilarious take on loneliness. a dwarf named Fin (Peter Dinklage) settles into a remote outpost - a rundown train depot in the wilds of New Jersey - that is so restful it seems perfect for him, but gradually he attracts the interest of the locals. Both hostile and forthcoming characters cross his tracks until a friendship develops between him and Joe and Olivia, who he initially resisted contact with (Bobby Cannavale and Patricia Clarkson). As the trio gets better acquainted, they gradually open up to life's possibilities, and the thorny intricacies of each other's psyches. Fin's obsessed with trains. The station, though, is mostly deserted, and can only provide an incomplete fantasy.
The script is lean on dialogue but sparkles when it speaks. First-time writer/director Tom McCarthy has an innate sense of timing, exhibiting an instinctive flair for spare filmmaking. A movie about a dwarf certainly flirts with being cringe-worthy, at least in the abstract, but the director deals with his creations as rounded characters. The Audience Award winner at the Sundance Film Festival is every inch worthy of its fulsome kudos.