In the drama, the four foot and five inch tall Peter Dinklage plays Finbar McBride, a little person who just wants to be left alone. Dinklage is also a train enthusiast, and when he inherits an old, out of commission train depot, he has hopes that solitude will soon be his. It seems, however, that no matter how hard he tries to remain withdrawn, people end up entering his life. This includes a local snack truck vendor (an extremely likable Bobby Cannavale) and a recently divorced woman (a splendid Patricia Clarkson) with a tragic past. Before long, a bond slowly develops between the three distinctively different personalities.

There isn't anything particularly bold about The Station Agent. It doesn't really places your not expecting. It is the process that makes this movie such a delight. This cast has picture perfect chemistry and they make the most of it.

Dinklage is quietly effective as McBride. This is a terrific performance that, while restrained, always feels real. Cannavale is a ball of energy as a likable New Jersey native, a man who never has a shortage of things to say. And then there's the wonderful Patricia Clarkson who seems to be everywhere these days. With several films at this year's festival as well as strong work in Todd Hayne's Far From Heaven, this terrific actress is making quite the name for herself. In The Station Agent, she is funny, vulnerable, and heartbreaking.

As great as the performances are, and as skilled as director Tom McCarthy is, I found myself wanting the screenplay to take more chances. While the three leads play off of each other beautifully, nothing surprising in this picture ever really happened. We all know that McBride has a chip on his shoulder, and seeing dwarfism as a topic at the forefront of a movie was quite interesting. Alas, Clarkson's problems aren't nearly as interesting despite the fact that she plays this role with real gusto.

I had the same reaction to The Station Agent that I had with last year's Real Woman Have Curves. I really liked it, but felt that it just didn't quite get there. Certainly this is a movie with a lot of heart, but I would have liked it more if it were a little less predictable.