Been getting some GREAT input from everybody and some stellar reviews. Figured today I’d publish some:

From Sarah M. -

I’m always up for a movie that I haven’t seen before. Whenever I go renting I always look for ones I haven’t seen before. I was excited when I heard Clandestine was going to have a movie club, because I highly doubt they would pick anything but awesome movies. I watched The Station Agent twice. The downfall of renting is they can be scratched so I had to get it buffed and watch it again. Not that I’m complaining. I think The Station Agent was one of those moviess where you could watch it on a rainy day and just be content with the end. I wish there would’ve been a bit more build up at the beginning between Fin and his friend Henry. Might’ve helped me understand the story a little more. I always have a lot of questions when it comes to any sort of movie. Why is Fin so interested in trains? He never really says, but I like how his friends are all pretty interested in it too. Every story has to have comic relief and that was definitely Joe. I admit this movie wasn’t a comedy but Joe made it more interesting at times with his antics. It got me a little down at the climax when Fin, Olivia and Joe all got mad at eachother and separated and when they tried to fix things with eachother one would just yell at the other to go away. It proves how some people just like to be alone sometimes whether you do have friends or not. In the end though they all got together and it seemed like nothing was ever wrong. I also enjoyed the character Cleo. She seemed like a curious kid who just likes to pretend around trains. I thought it was really sweet that she wanted Fin to talk at her school. I’m glad that he eventually did go and talk at the school even though there probably was no doubt that some of the kids would hassle him.
I’m not the most insightful person in the world but I still enjoyed the movie nonetheless and hope you keep the club going.

Now from Heaven Hayward - 

I’m actually watching The Station Agent for the second time today as I type this right now. I think, in a way, that I liked the characters within the story alot more than I did the story as a whole. Which isn’t to say that the story was bad, because it wasn’t.But the characters have a certain something to them that draws you in. They’re very real in their tendencies and their feelings. Joe is the more obvious bit of comic relief in the movie. He instigates what turns out to be the start of a very awkward, some times dysfunctional friendship. What I really liked about his character was that he had a lot more layers than you original thought he would.His ability to push the people around him into sharing their space and time with him, some times unvoluntarily, is endearing. Olivia is a mess. I really loved that most of the time her outward appearance reflected what was inside. Especially at the beginning when she’s covered in paint, her hair is wild, and she nearly runs Finn down, not once, but twice in the same day.When she shows up to apologize she tells Finn something very personal and then follows the statement with, “Would you mind not looking at me right now?” It’s a very poweful statement. Finn is the perfect example of a person who loathes being something he can’t change. He dislikes that he is different, and it affects his outlook on life. In the beginning he’s surly and unfriendly and he seems surprised that Joe takes an instant interest in him. He’s almost cimical in his want to be left alone, since so many of the people in the movie are drawn to him.To say that his character grows the most in the span of and hour and a half would be a lie, since I think that all three of the characters develop, but I think that his change is the easiest to see.When Olivia has her meltdown he does a 180, and instead of being the person who pushes he’s the one doing the pushing. He calls Joe and brings him back to the group; in a way he draws all three of them together into a tighter (still slightly awkward) family unit.  All in all, the movie was very comical with these moments that are serious and sometimes just a little painful. There are moments when you’re waiting for a train wreck and there are moments when you wish you could make a connection with people the same way the three do with each other. The Station Agent was a very good movie and a very good pick for the Clan Movie Club.
From Michael Weissman - 
Overall, I think the film had some great moments, and some really great messages portrayed through it, but there was not much to grasp on to.  The three main characters developed a bond, but only Vin’s character was fully explored, if that.  Vin’s overcoming of his fears shown in one of the final scenes, where he makes a public talk at the elementary school, was heartfelt, and displayed a personal gain for him.  The problems of his romantic relationships were hardly focused on, and could have been further explored.  The movie leaves you wanting to know what happens to the librarian and her pregnancy, and Olivia and her ex husband, and how they both relate to Vin.  It’s interesting how Vin does nothing, and rarely says anything, yet still manages to get in two awkward kisses in the film.  Funny how women work that way, right?  (Find me the girl that makes the first move and doesn’t require me to even try to hit on her!..)  Joe serves as the comic relief, with enough personality to make up for the lack of personality with the other characters.  His sick dad gives him the requirement to leave and come as needed, but it would have been a nice twist if something happened there.  I was hoping for something more the entire film. The acting is great, and the themes are great, but all in all, you can get the same heartfelt sympathy in Driving Lessons, with Harry Potter star Rupert Grint.
Do you guys agree? Disagree? Let’s hear from you. Email me at Jensen@ClanMovieClub.com.