Dramedy That Launched Peter Dinklage's Career Before GoT Is Now Free to Stream
Before Game of Thrones' global fame, Peter Dinklage starred in a critically acclaimed indie film that showcased his exceptional talent and laid the foundation for his successful career.
In 2003, this small-budget ($500,000) film introduced many viewers to Dinklage's acting abilities, though it would take nearly another decade before he achieved his mainstream recognition. So long before Peter Dinklage became the witty and complex Tyrion Lannister we all love, he was winning hearts in this indie drama.
Directed by Tom McCarthy (who later went on to direct the Oscar-winning Spotlight), the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the Audience Award. It also snubbed BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay.
But despite its success, now the movie remains under the radar. And we need to fix that.
The Station Agent Is a Heartfelt Story of Unlikely Friendships
We present to you the one and only The Station Agent.
Meet Finbar McBride, a man with dwarfism who inherits an abandoned train station in rural New Jersey after his friend and employer dies. Seeking solitude, Fin moves to the station, hoping to live a quiet life away from stares and comments that have followed him throughout his life.
But life has some other plans (as usual). Despite his attempts to isolate himself, Fin reluctantly forms unexpected friendships with two locals: Joe (Bobby Cannavale), a way too talkative fella, and Olivia (Patricia Clarkson), an artist dealing with personal tragedy.
Their awkward initial encounters gradually evolve into a bond that helps each of them heal in their own way.
In an interview to Phase9, Dinklage said:
“I loved the script from the first draft…There are not enough films with stories like that nowadays.”
And The Station Agent is really THAT powerful. It treats its characters with dignity and depth rather than reducing them to stereotypes.
Dinklage was also asked whether or not he experienced any opportunities since the movie was well-received, to which he replied:
"One job always [leads] to the next if you're lucky. This has had a wide audience, and a lot of people in the business have seen it. I've gotten some phone calls, so it's been okay. And Clint Eastwood loved it, which was kind of neat."
Oh boy, if only he knew that in just a few years he will be on the biggest show on TV at the time!
So if you're intrigued by this chapter of Dinklage's career (or simply in the mood for a thoughtful, character-driven story), then you're lucky — you can stream The Station Agent on Hoopla completely free! Talk about the perfect opportunity to discover or revisit this masterpiece.