Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

Laikals The greatest movie ever made..!

WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Jackson Booth-Millard I didn't know anything about what this movie was about, only one or two of its stars, and I knew the critics gave it slightly low ratings, but I was prepared to give it a chance, directed by Michael Hoffman (One Fine Day). Basically set in the year 1910, the last year in the life famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer), regarded as one of the greatest writers of all time. Tolstoy was thought of as a saint or a prophet, with many followers known as "disciples", his most famous works are probably War and Peace, and Anna Karenina. The story sees Tolstoy's disciples, led by Vladimir Chertkov (Paul Giamatti), trying to get control of his legacy and the copyright of his works, after he dies, from his wife Sofya (Dame Helen Mirren). The main setting is Tolstoy's country estate of Yasnaya Polyana, Tolstoy and his wife have had a long, passionate marriage, she mothered his fifteen children, but they are at odds with her more aristocratic and conventionally religious views. The manoeuvring of the copyrights is seen through the eyes of Tolstoy's new secretary, Valentin Bulgakov (James McAvoy), who is inbetween both sides, he also has a love affair with Masha (Kerry Condon), one of the Tolstoians. Ultimately, Tolstoy signs the new will and travels to an undisclosed location (the last station of the title), to continue his work undisturbed, after his departure, Sofya unsuccessfully attempts to commit suicide, trying to drown herself in the lake. During his journey, Tolstoy falls ill, it ends with his near death at the Astapovo train station, daughter Sasha (Anne-Marie Duff) allows her to see him moments before his death, it is revealed that five years later the Russian senate reverted the copyrights of Tolstoy's work to Sofya. Also starring John Sessions as Dushan, Patrick Kennedy as Sergeyenko and Tomas Spencer as Andrey. Plummer looks the part with the big white hair and beard, Mirren is interesting as his wife, it was perhaps a mistake to have McAvoy be more focused on rather than the sparks flying between Plummer and Mirren, the story lacked flair, but there were a few interesting moments, overall it was a slightly below average period biographical drama. Okay!

bkoganbing If I shut my eyes for a bit and just listen to Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren for a bit I might think I've got The Lion In Winter on. The two certainly sound a lot like that other estranged couple Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Both couples apparently can't live with each other or without each other.It's the famous Russian author's last days and everybody knows it including Plummer. He and Mirren brought a lot of kids into the world most of whom lived to adulthood. He's got a traditional will with the first son prime, but provisions for all. That's what Mirren wants, their descendants to benefit for as long as possible like any other author. But those around Tolstoy who have subscribed to his ideas about universal non-violent revolution want his work into the public domain so that those who can read can profit thereby and his ideas spread to all. A grand scheme that will leave the Tolstoy family bereft of profit.That's what James McAvoy is there for. Installed in the household by Paul Giammati chief disciple of the Count he starts having ideas of his own and starts seeing the Countess's point of view.Watching this I wonder if a young Tolstoy ever met an old Charles Dickens? Those two had diametrically opposed views as to what an author should receive. Dickens kept a careful eye on his copyrights lest anyone take a shilling from him. Irving Berlin who lived to 101 was actually dismayed as more and more of his early song hits entered public domain and he could no longer make a nickel on work like Alexander's Ragtime Band, When I Lost You and a few others.Plummer and Mirren are as matched a set of adversaries as Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn were and they got Oscar nominations to prove it. The film is mostly the two of them, but are they worth it.

jb_campo Wow, I loved The Last Station (2009) which I plucked off the shelf at my library. This was a real gem of a movie in all phases.The story is terrific, much more interesting than I thought. Tolstoy (Christoper Plummer) was the world-famous author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina. In fact, he was a Count in Russia, treated like royalty. But his writings and the Tolstoyan movement preached abstinence of possessions and sex, and that all people should be treated equally.The problem is that Tolstoy, as he admitted multiple times in the movie, was not a very devout Tolstoyan himself, having fathered 13 children while living in a luxurious castle with every human pleasure he wanted. Moreso than for him, his wife Sofya, the Countess (Helen Mirren), likes the possessions they have earned, and knows all about Tolstoy's real history, since they'd been together almost 50 years.Enter a few other characters like Valentin (James McAvoy) as his young, exuberant, celibate Secretary, Masha (Ann Marie Duff)a rebellious Tolstoyan living in the community, and mostly Cherkov (Paul Giamatti), kind of like Tolstoy's consigliere from the Godfather films, who is driving the expansion and business side of Tolstoy's movement.The major thrust of the story is the constant conflict between the triangle of Tolstoy vs Sofya his wife, who is fighting against Chertkov, who tries to get Valentin involved as his "spy" of the inner Tolstoy circle. The push and pull, back and forth, from beginning to end is constant, and annoying. I found myself screaming at them to just let it go and stop whining like little spoiled brats, but I guess they could not.Great story, but the real gem is the acting. Christoper Plummer is world famous and he delivers a Tolstoy who is honest, cynical, driven, and yes loving. He loves Sofya very much. Helen Mirren is absolutely over the top fantastic as Countess Sofya, delivering all the right emotions of knowing the real Tolstoy, expressing unbridled emotion at times in so many ways. It made me wonder whether the real Countess has some bipolar disease, or whether she just did not want to see people act as vultures around her aging husband, picking apart his will and his belongings to their own profit.What I really like about this film is that they all spoke straight English. No one pretended to put on Russian accents. There were no scenes with sub-titled Russian. Simple. Sure the costumes were culturally correct, as was the setting. Apart from one scene where Mirren held up a paper with Russian characters, the Director stayed away from this distraction.The Director, Michael Hoffman, is not that experienced or well known. However, he also wrote the screenplay, so he obviously knew the story and what he wanted to achieve. He basically let this talented group live the story, and guided it to a well-oiled finale.The one area that was so-so was the cinematography, which was nothing special because most of the scenes took place in two areas - the Tolstoy castle home and the village community, with some fleeting scenes in Moscow.Overall,the Last Station is a terrific movie, with an interesting story, and phenomenal performances by Mirren and Plummer. This one should be on your must-see list. Don't miss this stop - Enjoy.

Armand Charming. Impressive. But the final impression is about few great actors on stage. The taste of theater play is deep. And the novel is only pretext for a a nice interpretation. The virtue, in this case, is the story in spring clothes. Invitation to read the novel. And to discover Tolstoi universe. Pray of expectations, the film is only a personal adaptation of a book. And one of images of subjective huge writer. It is not another solution. The result is decent and Christopher Plummer seductive, Helen Mirrer - brilliant and James McAvoid - the same.But the deep waters are avoided. Piece of old Russia in the pocket of West director, The Last Station is only a impression. An interesting toy in the light of lost time, a beautiful drawing in delicate colors.