The Genre says, "Comedy/Drama." And I do not agree less. However, it is more of a drama nature rather comedy. But the thing is: I am guilty of laughing at the legendary - Peter Dinklage. The way he jumped twice to avoid getting hit by a car was just pure laughter. I do not want to be labelled as "discrimanted" but I watched that scene thrice.
The Plot
The beginning seemed more like "John Wick" without action in it. There is less to no talk, and that is it. Just a normal life. However, the plot takes a turn when Finbar's friend die, and he inherits his property. So, in the loving memory of his friend, he moves to the abandoned station. This makes it clear the reasoning behind the name. In the loving memory? Nah, I just made that up so it looks normal. He moves there to avoid any humanly interaction, to live alone and peacefully. There is a reason behind it - he is a dwarf. The people - human beings - make his feel something of alien nature.
The movie mainly revolves around three lonely people: Finbar, Joe, and Olivia. I know, I started a lot with Finbar because who does not love Peter? But believe me, every character really lived out their roles.
Characters and their stories
Finbar is reserved and wants nothing more than his own space. Yes, I know I have already said it. But I am too lazy to rewrite and reshape that part, so pardon me. Joe, played by Bobby Cannavale, is almost his opposite. He is loud, friendly, energetic and completely incapable of leaving Fin alone. As Olivia says of his: "He does know to live." Then there is beloved Olivia, played by Patricia Clarkson, an artist dealing with the death of her younng son - Sam. Along with this inevitable loss, she also has to deal with the collapse of her marriage.
Somehow, these three very different people become friends. There is no dramatic transformation or Hollywood style solution. And I literally loved this not-so-usual story style. They simply spend time together, talk, argue, laugh and slowly realise that loneliness becomes a little easier when someone else is sitting beside you.
Personal Analysis
Oh my favorite part is already here. Movie is almost one and half hours, and the plot revolves mostly around the drama.
But I call it: emotional depth.
This movie is just so full of humanly emotions. This, too, through three different personalities. Throughout the movie, Fin is trying to be something he does not want to be. But his friends are there to let him enjoy being "Normal." For this normal part, there is also Emily - played by Michelle Williams. Man! she is such a beauty. I do not know her personality carries charm, and she can act too.
"Trains are really cool." - Joe
At the surface level, it really seems like Stupid Joe moment. But the movie really portrayed this whole "train and station" concept differently. For me, it tried to give meaning to things which may seem usual and no so important, but for people out there, even this usual carries a big meaning. Everyone has their own taste, their own perceptions, and their own liking. Then there is this me, who sometimes like to use "Oxford comma"; the other times, not my headache. Lol!
"It's funny how people see me and treat me, since I'm really just a simple, boring person." - Finbar
Just a simple, boring person? Nah, his character really carries a different charm. There is this calm in him. And to me, it felt like Fin was Peter, Peter was Fin. Just like his real life, he never turned Fin into a special person. He acted normal; he took things normal. He saw people thinking of him as different, but as I usually say: "There are good people, then there are people." Some really treated him as people, but the "good people" never let him feel alienated.
Escapism
This escapism theory is also there. The four characters are just escaping from their lifely obstacles. Olivia paints and try to act cool, while on the inside she is broken. Fin wants to be alone, but on the inside, he is afraid of that thing. He wants to be normal. Joe? He is tired of his "fuckin" father. So he loves to play cool and act all happy. Emily is charming, but she too has problems. As she is pregnant and afraid of it. So they all just escape, however by the end, they all just let it out. And sometimes, it is better to lighten up rather than lighting up a cigarette.
Smoking
Being an ex-smoker, I just cannot let this part go unnotice. The moments of smoking just give me nostalgia. So take it as, if there is a joyful moment, it is time to smoke; there is gloominess, time to puff; and there is waiting, time to get high. Olivia being a mature woman, just avoided these things for the most part. But the two male characters really enjoyed being them.
One single con.
There is one single thing, I do not like. The too sudden ending. It felt like they just ran out of money or time. The last ten minutes, just flew by.
Before watching the movie, I wrote a short post about it is not downloading, and I was actually frustrated. However, I think that "7.6/10" by IMdB is so unjust. The movie may seems the usual at the surface level, but there is this deepness, waiting for a caged mind to open up. I have no idea what I just said. But self-proclaimed philosopher said, what it said.
In the end, just like they did with the movie. I am going to end it abruptly. Because, why not?
Ratings as of now:
IMDb: 7.6/10 from about 81K ratings.
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% critics (158 reviews)
Rotten Tomatoes audience: 🍿 89% (25,000+ ratings).
Metacritic: 81/100.
Personal: 90/100 for the emotional depth.
Peace 🕊️
Rating: 90/100
