Stationed At Home is the debut feature-length film from writer-director Daniel V. Masciari. This comedy-drama unfolds like Coffee And Cigarettes if it had a central character tying all the tangential stories together. The main character is Ralph (Erik Bjarnar), a driver for Galaxy Cab. His shift is the graveyard, and he’s seemingly the only cabbie on the road at any point in time.
But tonight, Ralph is eager to get home early, not just because it is Christmas Eve. No, he’s ecstatic that the International Space Station will fly past his little New York town at 5:47 am. Luckily, it is a slow night. The flip side is that Ralph’s passengers are all quirky and play havoc with his night. Harry (Darryle Johnson) is in need of money for his family, but he is nice, and the two hit it off well. Elaine (Eliza VanCort) is unusually quiet, seemingly lost in her memories. Stanley (Endres Kincaid) gets so drunk on the way to the airport that he passes out in the cab. Then Harry needs a ride again because of his new acquaintance, Jack (Jeff DuMont), who may or may not be hiding a secret that puts everyone in peril.
Stationed At Home was filmed in black-and-white, giving it a lyrical feel. This vibe plays into some of the twists and turns the narrative takes. It eases audiences into accepting certain things that wouldn’t work if it weren’t for the fairy tale-esque atmosphere. Each scene is lovely, but the shots of Ralph longingly gazing at the stars above are breathtaking.
Part of what makes those moments so good is Bjarnar’s acting. He’s truly outstanding as the steadfast yet lonely man with only one thing to look forward to. He’s sweet, affable, yet the actor lets all watching view just beneath the surface to really know and love Ralph. This is one of the best performances of the year, hands down, and Bjarnar deserves all the praise for consistently delivering even as the script falters. The rest of the cast is also good, but not on the same level.
“…Ralph’s passengers are all quirky and play havoc with his night.”
Now, to elaborate on the flaws in the screenplay. Elaine’s story feels very disconnected from the more chaotic cabbie and Harry and co. tales as those two eventually intertwine again. Elaine’s segment remains on the outs, and her ride in the cab is mostly silent, so there’s very little to latch onto with her scenes. Then the wrap-up to what she wants this Christmas leaves one slightly confused. No spoilers, but questions do remain.
However, that pales in comparison to the actual end. The finale does not work on any level. Nothing is satisfying or realistic about the conclusion, and it feels like it is meant to be more comedically shocking than sensible in relation to the story at hand. Yes, there’s something poetic about someone who was sheltered letting it all out in a single evening or event that can be cathartic. But because everything about the production, from the script to the art design to the cinematography, establishes this as a non-reality. As such, something more grand, even hopeful, is needed to maintain the otherwise carefully controlled tone.
Despite the way Masciari wraps up Stationed At Home, there is still a lot to like and appreciate here. The look of the film is wonderful, and the threads of connection are engaging, even if they don’t all fully connect back around. Most importantly, though, is Bjarnar’s soulful portrayal of a cab driver with little to look forward to. He is good enough to make this an easy recommendation, carrying the film across its tepid finish line just through sheer ability.
For more information, visit the official Stationed At Home site.
"…Bjarnar's acting...is one of the best performances of the year, hands down..."
