The Station Agent (2003)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Thomas McCarthy

Writer (WGA):

Thomas McCarthy (written by)

Release Date:

5 December 2003 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Loneliness is much better when you have got someone to share it with (norway DVD release).

Plot:

When his only friend dies, a man born with dwarfism moves to rural New Jersey to live a life of solitude, only to meet a chatty hot dog vendor and a woman dealing with her own personal loss.

Plot Keywords:

Train | Depot | Newfoundland New Jersey | Dwarf | Hot Dog Vendor

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 22 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Peter Dinklage	...	Finbar McBride
Paul Benjamin	...	Henry Styles
Jase Blankfort	...	Store Customer
Paula Garcés	...	Cashier (as Paula Garces)
Josh Pais	...	Carl
Richard Kind	...	Louis Tiboni
Bobby Cannavale	...	Joe Oramas
Patricia Clarkson	...	Olivia Harris
Lynn Cohen	...	Patty at the Good to Go
Raven Goodwin	...	Cleo
Marla Sucharetza	...	Janice
Michelle Williams	...	Emily
Jayce Bartok	...	Chris
Joe Lo Truglio	...	Danny (as Joe Lotruglio)
John Slattery	...	David

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some drug content.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Germany:o.Al. | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Norway:7 | Canada:14A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

SenArt Films

Trivia:

Thomas McCarthy wrote the three main roles directly for the actors who ended up playing them. McCarthy has stated in interviews that at the time of writing he was friends with Peter Dinklage, an acquaintance and a colleague of Bobby Cannavale and almost a complete stranger to Patricia Clarkson.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Joe is making lunch for Fin and Olivia, the meat has grill marks, even though it's being fried with onions in a pan.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Henry Styles: Morning, professor.
Finbar McBride: Good morning.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I Ruined Your Life

I was entranced. Just what I want in a movie.

The Station Agent was for me one of those "quiet movies about quiet people who come and go quietly" (I'm not a big fan of action films.) I love to experience human intimacy on film and The Station Agent did exactly that for me. I found the characters, and their interaction, captivating. I fell in love with Patricia Clarkson through Six Feet Under, Bobby Cannavale through Will & Grace, and Peter Dinklage through Dinner for Five. What an ensemble! In this coming together of such grand talent, I experienced synergistic convergence, a rare commodity in film. I found Peter absolutely enchanting, he delivers a magical performance. I am in awe of the light that shines from his being. I perceive him to be an ancient soul. My life has been enriched for having experienced his essence. And, even though I'm old enough to be his mother, I find him to be a handsome and sexy man! (And I'm 5'9" tall). The universe has been waiting for Peter Dinklage. I look for him to accomplish wonderful things (in and out of the film industry).