The Station Agent

In writer-director Tom McCarthy's The Station Agent, Peter Dinklage gives a compelling performance as a dwarf named Finbar, a railroad buff who lives a quiet, solitary life as an employee in a Hoboken model train shop until his boss dies and bequeaths him not the business but a deserted rail station outside a rural New Jersey town. Although solitary and uncommunicative, after moving to the property Finbar reluctantly gets involved with some of the locals--Olivia (Patricia Clarkson), a troubled divorcee haunted by the loss of her young son; Joe (Bobby Cannavale), a loquacious, good-natured young man who parks his hot dog stand near Finbar's depot and is desperate for companionship; Cleo (Raven Goodwin), a lonely neighborhood girl; and Emily (Michelle Williams), a young librarian with a delicate condition and an obtuse boyfriend. Despite the occasional misstep, this is a deeply satisfying story of the power of friendship and the possibility of emotional redemption. Beautifully written and acted, this gentle and touching film, with its wryly-understated sense of humor, is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-director Tom McCarty and costars Bobby Cannavale, Patricia Clarkson, and Peter Dinklage; five deleted scenes with optional commentary (4 min.); and trailers. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for a small but solid indie hit.] (F. Swietek)