This is one of the best films of 2003 easily. Top three. Most films rarely have one complexly drawn character and this film has three. It's a story of strangers. One shelters himself and one opens up to anyone and the third is stuck in between. There are many reasons why they are estranged from other people. It is the mystery of the story for us to discover those reasons.
Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage, ELF) is a little person, who works in a model train store. Through a tragedy, he inherits an old train depot in New Jersey. Across from his new home is a hot dog stand where the extremely extroverted and persistent Joe Oramas (Bobby Cannavale, THE GURU) works. As we quickly see being a little person brings a lot of unwanted attention and Fin has learned to keep his distance from people. He then runs into (or more like the other way around) artist Olivia Harris (Patricia Clarkson, ALL THE REAL GIRLS). Before too long the three strike up a friendship, but past wounds put their relationship in jeopardy.
The film is quite honest about it's material, which is layered and nuanced. Director Thomas McCarthy's screenplay, which was nominated for an Oscar, is hilarious. The story really revolves around the nature of the characters. Fin is suspect of the reasons why people want to talk to him. I mean people take pictures of him when he enters grocery stores. Joe has moved to the small town from New York to look after his ailing father. He's bored at his hot dog stand and just wants to make a friend. He's new to town and his in-your-face personality can easily make people uncomfortable. Olivia isn't looking for new friends, but she's a kind person and isn't averse to meeting new people. However, she has emotional roadblocks that won't let people get too close.
The three leads are perfect in their roles. Dinklage makes a star-making turn in the lead. He is a man who must carry shields because of his height. His contempt for the world is understandable when all he experiences is surprise from his presence. His train-watching hobby is a quiet solitary one, which matches his mood well. It's the screenplay's wonderful attention to detail that Fin is not a train-chaser. That would be too active for his personality. But watch how he reacts to the pretty librarian Emily (Michelle Williams, TV's DAWSON'S CREEK). He's a man and he hopes to have her attention.
Cannavale is another standout. He makes Joe like a puppy, full of energy and honestly glad to see you. Clarkson gives a deep and sad performance as a woman struggling to heal after a tragedy. She a good person at heart, but she's wounded, which makes her lash out and say things she probably wouldn't say otherwise.
This is required reviewing for any film lover. The dramedy is extremely well-written and beautifully shot. This is the kind of film that reminds me why I love movies.
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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
