RockPortReview

Not to be confused with the other film called "Broken" I reviewed back in April of this year. This "Broken" was released by Dimension Extreme back in 2006 at the height of the torture porn craze. Riding the coattails of the "Saw" and "Hostel" Movies, this low budget British import is all kinds of nasty, but in the end is not all that interesting. The film is also supposedly based on a true story.

Like a lot of horror movies were given a gruesome opening scene that gives you a taste of what's to come. We are then introduced to Hope (quite the metaphorical name), a young woman out on a date having a good time. She returns home to say goodnight to her 6 year old daughter and goes to sleep only to wake up buried underground. The story is then structured into days she is held captive my a mysterious psychopath. After Day 2 she is dug up and tied to a tree, similar to another victim from the opening scene. A razor blade has been sewn up in her abdomen leaving her not choice but to dig it out, and cut her self free from the tree. The make-up and effects are supremely disgusting all through the film and are the main reason to watch it in the first place. Unfortunately like a lot of horror movies the story and characters are weak and poorly drawn. The plot is very thin and predictable with only the final scenes being somewhat original.

The unnamed male psychopath takes his victims into the woods and sets up camp. He chains Hope to a tree and trains her to be his slave but not in any sexual way. After a few days he tests her loyalty and another few times she tries to escape but all things lead back to the camp and Hope being physically and mentally beaten and abused. About 10 days in the Man brings back another girl, a teenager who won't stop whining and crying, she really tests the viewers patience. This is kind of strange in that you really want the girl to die, just so she would shut the hell up. The man does gets fed up with her and cuts her tongue out. It's only a matter of time before the women hatch a plan to escape and the Man's reign of terror come to an end. Like I mentioned before the ending is a little different that what you'd expect, as it takes an extremely cruel twist in the spirit an extremely cruel movie.

One of the great independent films of 2003 and one of my personal favorites, "The Station Agent" introduces us to the exceptionally talented Peter Dinklage. Although upon first impression most people will only notice his 4 foot 5 inch frame, his deeply brooding and thoughtful performances rival any actor working today.

Finbar McBride, or Fin, is a solitary man who works at a hobby shop repairing and working with model trains. One day his friend and the stores owner Henry falls over dead, presumably of a heart attack. Fin is lost in despair, Henry however has left him a small but abandoned depot station to him in his will. With nothing tying him down Fin moves into to the Newfoundland depot station. Just across the way is an oddly placed food truck called Gorgeous Franks and its lone operator Joe, played by Bobby Cannavale. Joe is a friendly and energetic man who's intrigued by Fin arrival. Although not looking to make friends Fin eventually comes around and allows him to hang around with him. Also upon arrival Fin has a few run ins with Olivia, played by Patricia Clarkson. She doesn't make that good a first or second impression for that matter as she almost runs him over with her car, twice. Olivia is a friendly but slightly frantic, painter who is separated from her rich husband, Joe however has had his eye on her for quite some time.

Writer and director Tom McCarthy creates this world for these characters that is based in small town reality. Fin has a number of encounters with a curious little African American girl as well as a possible girlfriend in the form of the young and beautiful librarian, played by Michelle Williams. Although the heart of the story is the relationship between the three friend Fin, Joe, and Olivia. All are damaged in their own way and looking for something real. Finn fights with loneliness and alienation, while the return of Olivia's husband throws her life into an angry spiral. Joe is full of life and charisma, but misses his son, who lives with his mother. "The Station Agent" is a wonderful film, skillfully acted on all fronts with a deeply heartfelt story of a marginalized man trying to find his place in the world.

Although a lot of people now know Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister on "Game of Thrones", please take a moment to watch "The Station Agent".