Review of The Station Agent (2003) by Lila N — 18 May 2009

With this film and last year's deeply affecting "The Visitor," Thomas McCarthy has firmly established himself as one of the most promising talents in independent cinema. In "The Station Agent" McCarthy's film making style is certainly in keeping with the minimalistic tradition established by directors such as a Antonioni and Tarkovsky, in the sense that there isn't a great abundance of dialog, and there isn't much in the way of a crisis in the film.

It seems to chronicle the day-to-day existence of a lonely man afflicted with dwarfism, who is deeply shamed by his conditioned, finding solace only solitude. The thing that makes this film so poignant is the emotional response elicited by Peter Dinklage's understated performance.

Rather than vocalizing his immeasurable pain and anguish, his seems to convey it in his expressions and in his actions. And while he is bitter and deeply misanthropic, he learns to open himself to others, and becomes a bitter person in the end for allowing himself to enjoy the companionship of friends.

Bobby Cannavale's performance as the Cuban hotdog vendor was particularly amazing, seeing as that is my nationality. He played the "Cubanazo" factor up, and embodied it quite nicely. A very moving film overall, with a unique and refreshing premise.

I hope to see more great films from McCarthy in the future.