I rewatched this yesterday because I was was fascinated by how "Station to Station," an impressive debut from writer-director Benjamin Bryant and actor David Eggers II (as a leading man) has stirred divergent reactions among viewers. On one hand, critics reviews are pretty uniformly impressive, with those and many user reviewers giving the film high praise for its nuanced dialogue and deep thematic exploration, earning it comparisons to the works of auteurs like Richard Linklater, Tennessee Williams, and Noah Baumbach. That's no small praise! These reviews and comments tend to focus on the film's rich, dialogue-heavy scenes, which delve into profound human experiences and societal issues, and explore the film's merits as a serious, contemplative work of art.
On the other hand, there's a segment of the audience that declares "Station to Station" to be "too talky" or "boring," seemingly surprised by its emphasis on extended conversations and character studies given it's subject matter, setting, and the premise of the film. Many of these folks give the film middling or even punishingly low ratings, as if they were angry at it! (Look, there's no way this is a 1- or 2-star film, even if it's not a person's cup of tea.) That disparity fascinated me and led me to want to do a rewatch, both to understand it and maybe help a potential viewer go in with a realistic expectation of what to expect from this film.
I think the negative reaction can be attributed to expectations set by the media attention given the film and public perception based on blogs and discussion threads, which have heavily focused on its more sensational elements: the Las Vegas and adult entertainment setting, the copious inclusion of nudity (particularly unusual-for-American-films male nudity, including VERY memorable frontal nudity from Eggers) and diverse sexualities and situations shown onscreen. These aspects, while, absolutely integral to the narrative and character journeys, have potentially led some viewers to anticipate a film primarily centered around these elements. Trust me, they are prominent, impressive, and frequent in the film (there are no one-second flashes here or there requiring you to pause the screen. It's all there and spectacular, lol), but they aren't the only thing this film is intent on delivering. This is a FILM and as good as any of the early auteur work of Linklater, Baumbuch, Williams, or Ed Burns, and that means you get an auteur film, too.
The divergence in audience reception stems from this juxtaposition of deep, theater-like dialogues with the unfiltered portrayal of the adult entertainment world. While the film is indeed a really naked, really sexy film, it's also a bold exploration of 20s masculinity and relationships in 2023 and the digital age, exploring themes like faith, income inequality, domestic abuse, race-based fetishization in entertainment, and addiction. All while it doesn't shy away from presenting the realities of its Las Vegas setting and characters. As a different IMDb user reviewer noted, the film is reminiscent of Linklater's Beyond trilogy in its character-driven approach, yet it also embraces the rawness of Paul Thomas Anderson's storytelling in "Boogie Nights," (with one big difference: Eggers puts Boogie's Eddie/Dirk to shame and Eggers isn't wearing a prosthetic in his scenes, which thankfully don't require one waits until the end of the film, but are woven throughout for narratively justified reasons.)
This makes for a unique cinematic experience.
"Station to Station" thus straddles two worlds - the intellectually stimulating and the viscerally engaging - and does so with remarkable finesse. Eggers' performance is a standout, embodying the film's commitment to raw and vulnerable storytelling, as he navigates heart-to-heart scenes that ponder life's complexities. The film's ability to balance profound dialogues with explicit content is a testament to Bryant's careful, deliberate script and talented direction and the cast's versatile performances, which have been lauded for their authenticity and relatability.
To put it simply, "Station to Station" is a film that demands open-mindedness from viewers coming at it from both camps -- the ones who want a fun, sexy boundary-pushing romp AND the ones who want a quiet, powerful arthouse triumph -- with a willingness to embrace its dual nature. It's a movie that can be appreciated for its artistic depth and its unapologetic portrayal of adult themes.
At last I've figured out why the film has found both critical acclaim and awards recognition, while also provoking mixed reactions from a wider audience. This duality is what makes "Station to Station" a unique and thought-provoking film, worthy of attention from those who seek either or both of its core elements.
