The Station Agent

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We saw this tonight, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Peter Dinkland is *terrific* as a not-terribly-friendly train buff who's befriended by various odd people in a small town... No real violence, and a lovely soundtrack including singing saw from Julian Koster (I stood up & pointed at the credits and cried "Julian!!!", to my husband's mild embarrassment - he knows what I'm like). Anybody else seen this yet? Opinions?

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Sunday, 19 October 2003 05:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I was curious after the trailer. But is it incredibly twee? Or does it have a dark side?

― adaml (adaml), Sunday, 19 October 2003 05:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Not at all twee, despite that it stars a dwarf. Not really a dark side, other than the fact that he gets stared at constantly.

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Sunday, 19 October 2003 06:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Funny, sad, not particularly sappy, well-shot, well-written. We get to know the characters at the same pace as they get to know each other, and the progression of events and emotions is believable. Like Lost In Translation (though, perhaps, here the similarities end), the Station Agent is a depiction of friendship. I heard an interview with Peter in which he said it was difficult to talk about the movie without it sounding sentimental, even though it rarely if at all is sentimental. I agree, so I'm going to shut up now.

― Ryan McKay (Ryan McKay), Sunday, 19 October 2003 21:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I liked the attention to detail as well. For instance, (SPOILERS)

when the little figurine next to the model train he is working on falls over and in the next moment his boss collapses in the other room...or when his survival of the train nearly running him over while he was drunk is suggested (at least visually if not literally) to be a result of his reduced stature (in effect passing over him)

― Ryan McKay (Ryan McKay), Sunday, 19 October 2003 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

The only part I didn't like was the bar scene in which he stands up on his stool and says his little speech. Seemed like an unlikely thing for that character to do. But otherwise enjoyed it very much.

― quincie, Monday, 20 October 2003 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

We couldn't get into see Greil Marcus so we saw this last night. Better than I expected, actually.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 23 November 2003 16:23 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

It was good, but the end seemed weak. I mean, you build up the thing with pregnant Dawson's Creek girl and her evil redneck boyfriend, and Joe's dad, etc. - then just leave it? I don't expect a neatly wrapped package but it felt unfinished.

(Though I saw this right after City of God tonight, so maybe it was just a letdown in comparison.)

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 04:47 (twenty-one years ago)

eleven months pass...

it was really pretty good. dialogue funny and unforced. liked the ending.

― m. (mitchlnw), Monday, 31 January 2005 19:54 (twenty years ago)

i really liked it too. although it kind of seemed like they dropped some of the stuff about joe's dad (like why didn't joe show up at the bar?).

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 31 January 2005 19:57 (twenty years ago)

i enjoyed this. woulda liked it more if there weren't so many damn CHARACTERS.

― Nimrod Kovacs (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 31 January 2005 19:57 (twenty years ago)

Miles Finch to thread.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 31 January 2005 19:57 (twenty years ago)

I really enjoyed it too.

― Huk-L, Monday, 31 January 2005 20:07 (twenty years ago)

SPOILERS (-KINDA)

i'd rather have some dangling loose ends than be set up for the 'joe's dad dies/he comes out of it having lost his childlike wonder but nonetheless wiser' that i thought i was being set up for. ditto for the psycho-boyfriend-comes-back-for-revenge non-event.

― m. (mitchlnw), Monday, 31 January 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago)

I was pretty convinced that I'd hate this, but it was really very good.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 31 January 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

Also, couldn't help but notice (in a hetero fashion) that Peter Dinkland is a very handsome man. Great face, that guy.

― Huk-L, Monday, 31 January 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

Although this met all the hidebound criteria for an 'Indie Movie', I thought it was charming and poignant. I particularly like the actor who portrayed Joe. I have the worst crush on Clarkson, and Dinklage's 'strong silent type' thing didn't come across as a pose.

― Michael White (Hereward), Monday, 31 January 2005 20:14 (twenty years ago)

I really liked this movie. Can't remember the ending, but I don't really care.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 31 January 2005 20:25 (twenty years ago)

Also, couldn't help but notice (in a hetero fashion) that Peter Dinkland is a very handsome man. Great face, that guy.

I was impressed by the complete believability of M.Williams falling for him.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 31 January 2005 20:25 (twenty years ago)

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