Review of The Station Agent (2003) by Spencer N — 27 Aug 2008

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode][size=4][b][i]Big Fish[/i][/b] 5/10.

An ambitious, well made film that is inexplicably lacking. Stylistically, it almost feels clinically perfect. It seems like in his attempt to construct his masterpiece, Burton has opted to inject very little of his own unique vision into the film. The result is somewhat thinly imagined and almost boring in parts. The ending was strong, but as a piece of storytelling (which, after all, was what the movie was all about), it felt resoundingly mediocre.

[b][i]Finding Nemo[/i][/b] 7/10.

A beautifully animated and likable film about friendship and the relationship between father and son. Ellen DeGeneres offers a funny performance as the forgetful but well meaning Dory. A good story and great family film.

[b][i]Scary Movie[/i][/b] 6/10.

While stupid and tasteless, [i]Scary Movie[/i] has enough funny and entertaining moments to redeem it. It benefits from seeming like the kind of movie that was enjoyable to make. It is also the only installment of the series worth seeing.

[b][i]The Station Agent[/i][/b] 8/10.

A subtle, quietly remarkable film about the interaction and eventual friendship between three distinct individuals ? a self-contained dwarf, a clumsy painter who is mourning the loss of her son, and a friendly and energetic guy who?s taken over his father?s humble business in lieu of his sickness. It is wonderful in its focus on human communication.

[b][i]TransAmerica[/i] [/b]8/10.

[i]TransAmerica[/i] was a delight to watch. It?s refreshingly lighthearted, with a sense of humor that never belittles its characters. Felicity Huffman is the undisputed star of the show. Her role is a delicate one, especially placed within a comedic context, and she manages, quite brilliantly, to bring life to her character. A touching, unique contemporary American comedy.[/size][/font].