The Station Agent

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The Station Agent ★★★ 2003 (R)

Reclusive train enthusiast dwarf, Fibar McBride (Dinklage) takes up residence in an abandoned rural New Jersey train station he inherited in writer/director McCarthy's funny and poignant first film. Finbar's seemingly happy solitude is intruded upon by incurably outgoing local coffee cart owner Joe (Cannavale) who is fascinated by the strange newcomer. Among the other lonely locals is the downtrodden Olivia (Clarkson) who is dealing with the death of her child and a divorce. Finbar's passion for trains soon takes a back seat to some regular human contact. Dinklage is a standout in the title role, while Clarkson, Williams and Cannavale are equally excellent in this well-crafted dramedy. 88m/C VHS, DVD . US Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale, Raven Goodwin, Paul Benjamin, Michelle Williams; D: Thomas (Tom) McCarthy; W: Thomas (Tom) McCarthy; C: Oliver Bokelberg; M: Stephen Trask. British Acad. '03: Orig. Screenplay; Ind. Spirit '04: First Screenplay; Natl. Bd. of Review '03: Support. Actress (Clarkson); Natl. Soc. Film Critics '03: Support. Actress (Clarkson).

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